Started in 1890, the railway line was completed in 1898. It was built to a nominal gauge of , and all rolling stock was constructed to this gauge. However, as local labour had difficulty grasping the concept of gauge widening on curves, the entire line was built to a gauge of . Alterations were made from 1923 to 1931, when it was converted to gauge on a new alignment. Several tens of thousands of people, convicts and forced workers, were employed for this renovation. 7,000 people lost their lives here.