In 1885 Ludwigsstadt achieved access to the Franconian Forest Railway line, connecting the Bavarian Ludwig South-North Railway near Lichtenfels with the Thuringian Saal Railway at Saalfeld.
It soon evolved to one of the most important north-south railway connections in Germany, linking the Prussian capital Berlin with Nuremberg and Munich.

Between 1945 and 1990 Ludwigsstadt station served as West German checkpoint for crossing the inner German border by rail with its counterpart at Probstzella station.
The border crossing was open for trains travelling from West to East Germany or West Berlin.
The traffic was subject to the interzonal traffic regulations, that regarding trains between West Germany and West Berlin followed the special regulations of the Transit Agreement (1972).

After German Reunification, the railway was restored and since 2000 is part of the Intercity Express (ICE) network with hourly trains linking Berlin and Munich.
As the winding line however does not allow fast travelling, it is to be replaced by the Nuremberg–Erfurt high-speed railway.
In 1885 Ludwigsstadt achieved access to the Franconian Forest Railway line, connecting the Bavarian Ludwig South-North Railway near Lichtenfels with the Thuringian Saal Railway at Saalfeld. It soon evolved to one of the most important north-south railway connections in Germany, linking the Prussian capital Berlin with Nuremberg and Munich.
Between 1945 and 1990 Ludwigsstadt station served as West German checkpoint for crossing the inner German border by rail with its counterpart at Probstzella station. The border crossing was open for trains travelling from West to East Germany or West Berlin. The traffic was subject to the interzonal traffic regulations, that regarding trains between West Germany and West Berlin followed the special regulations of the Transit Agreement (1972).
After German Reunification, the railway was restored and since 2000 is part of the Intercity Express (ICE) network with hourly trains linking Berlin and Munich. As the winding line however does not allow fast travelling, it is to be replaced by the Nuremberg–Erfurt high-speed railway.
Ludwigsstadt