Lake Zürich right-bank railway line

On 12th March 1894 the 30.3 kilometre stretch from Stadelhofen to Rapperswil was officially approved and two days later it was ceremonially opened. On the inauguration day, 14th March, a procession with two decorated locomotives and 14 coaches left Stadelhofen at 12:20 bound for Rapperswil. The train was given a warm welcome all along the route and there were lengthy stops. Some displeasure was felt in Herrliberg because the station, now known as Herrliberg-Feldmeilen, was actually situated within the municipality of Meilen. Black flags and banners had been hung out, and in Untergrüt, a street adjacent to the railway line, the special train was greeted by two effigies. On the return journey petrol was poured over the effigies. As the train went past, burning peat was thrown onto the carriages and some windows were broken by stones. The damage amounted to 7 francs. This incident later became known as the Herrliberg Railway Riot and eight inhabitants of Herrliberg were remanded in custody, three of whom were sentenced to two months' imprisonment.

The following day, 15th March 1894, the regular timetabled service between Stadelhofen and Rapperswil began. There were eight trains in each direction with a journey time of 67 to 75 minutes. It was not until six months later on 1st October 1894 that the through service from Rapperswil to Zurich Central Station was introduced. The route was via the Letten Tunnel and then onto a viaduct parallel to the Zurich-Winterthur line. In 1902 the Swiss Northeastern Railway was taken over by Swiss Federal Railways.

On 18th January 1971 two Gold Coast Express trains RABDe 12/12 1109 and 1119 collided in Herrliberg-Feldmeilen station. The cause was a combination of a points failure and human error. Six people died and 17 were injured in the accident.[3]

On 25th March 1971 RABDe 12/12 1113 and 1117 collided on departure from Uerikon, when a driver overran a red starter signal. The collision resulted in 16 injuries.[3]