Although the first projects to bring a railway line to Olot date back to the mid-19th century (even before the Barcelona-Mataró one), this railway was finally opened in 1911, after a lengthy construction process.

The first projects proposed linking Olot, capital of La Garrotxa, with Sant Joan de les Abadesses and its rich coal mines and, at the opposite end, with the port of Roses.

Later, the plans were limited to the link between Olot and Sant Joan when the latter town was connected by rail to Barcelona. Other later projects proposed a link with the town of Torelló, where it would connect with the railway from Barcelona to Sant Joan.

Finally, the easiest route through the Ter Valley was chosen, linking Girona with the rest of the national network.

After a few brilliant economic years, with important projects for extensions inland and towards Barcelona, the Spanish Civil War imposed severe losses on the “carrilet.” When the Republican troops retreated, a large part of the bridges were blown up, while locomotives, cars and wagons were lost. The floods of 1940 also washed away the tracks, making the reconstruction even more laborious.

Steam trains progressively gave way to diesel trains, facilitating the management of the railway. In spite of everything, the railway’s economic situation was unfavourable, resulting in its takeover by EFE in 1963. Its successor, FEVE, was also unable to overcome the railway crisis and, despite the high number of passengers and promising projects to link up with the Girona to Sant Feliu de Guixols railway, it was closed in July 1969.