Originally two separate lines, the routes were opened in three stages - Neumarkts - Waizenkirchen - Peuerbach on 18.12.1908, Linz - Eferding on 31.03.1912, and finally on 16.12.1912 the stretch between Eferdings and Waizenkirchen. The main line leaves the centre of the provincial capital, Linz, following the ÖBB Westbahn as far as Leoding, when it strikes out westwards to Alkoven. At Eferding it crosses the ÖBB branch from Wels to Aschach an der Donau, turning first south, then westwards again to Prambachkirchen and Waizenkirchen, where an end-on junction was made with the NWP.

The Lokalbahn NWP (Neumarkts - Waizenkirchen - Peuerbach) continued to be operated as a separate company, running services between Waizenkirchen and Neumarkt-Kalham, on the ÖBB's Wels - Passau international line, and Waizenkirchen - Wiederspaching - Peuerbach. Since 1998 this service has been run as a branch line, services starting and ending at Waizenkirchen.

Electrified throughout at 750 v d.c., the lines (although both operated by Stern und Hafferl) remained separate entities until 1 January 1998, 3 years and 9 days before the concession was due to end. The lines were amalgamated in law, and the services were rearranged and improved shortly afterwards. The whole is operated by S & H, but the routes are owned jointly by the city of Linz, the towns of Eferding, Leonding and Peuerbach, as well as Stern und Hafferl. The routes, with a total working length of 58.11 km., have a total of forty-four halts and stations, and over 250 level crossings.

Goods traffic remains an important part of the operation, especially as the line has connection to the Federal network at three points.

Like many of the Stern und Hafferl services, trains were, and are, operated by a variety of second-hand stock, sometimes of great antiquity. The branch service to Peuerbach was in the hands of a railcar built for its opening in 1908, until the late 1990's. Second hand stock dating from 1954 is still in use, but new low-floor units have been introduced in 2004. Services have been speeded up, and extra services introduced. Goods traffic is still hauled by three steeple-cab locos, the newest having been built in 1915.