With the division of Germany, the inner-German border cut all east and south-east branching lines; only the Helmstedt–Magdeburg line was preserved. After the closing of the Jerxheim–Börßum line and several branch lines at the end of the 1970s, the Wolfenbüttel–Jerxheim–Helmstedt line was the only line remaining between the border and the Elm hills. It was preserved despite moderate traffic for industrial policy reasons; the open cast lignite mines in the Helmstedt lignite mining district and the Buschhaus Power Station were connected to it.
