The line was opened to traffic in 1876 by the Compagnie du chemin de fer de la Seudre, and then extended to the channel of La Grève at La Tremblade.
In 1880, the line was bought by the State Railways Administration, which absorbed the bankrupt Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Ouest in 1908. The State Network, after its merger with the other national railway companies in 1938, became the Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF).
In 1939, the line was closed to passenger traffic, but continued its activity for the transport of goods until 1980.
Tourist service
In 1984, the association of the Seudre Tourist Railway (CFTS) started running a tourist train again but stopped tourist operation in 2002. The infrastructure (track, stations and Chaillevette depot) was then bought by the department of Charente-Maritime.
Between 2004 and 2006, the operation of the line was entrusted to CFTA, a subsidiary of Véolia Transport, but ceased in 2007.
In 2008, the association Trains & Traction was entrusted with the operation of the line, and has continued the activity since then.
Tourist operation takes place from the beginning of May to the end of September with daily traffic in July and August. Some special trains are organized in season or out of season like the "Train des Loupiottes1" or the "Train Éclade de moules". Most recently, the Train des Mouettes has opened up to gastronomy with refined meals with its restaurant train the "Seudre Océan Express", reviving the myth of rail travel for the time of a refined meal (reservation required by telephone).
The office is at the Saujon Chemin Vert station, and the workshop is in Chaillevette, in the middle of the line.
The following equipment is currently operated by volunteers
Steam locomotives
• Schneider (no. 2503), 1891 - Arrived at Chaillevette in 1984. In service since 2004.
• Henschel, 1912 - Arrived at Chaillevette in 1984. Inaugurated (being heated) on 20 June 2015.
• Fives-Lille (no. 3716), 1910 - Out of service (undergoing complete restoration).
• Borsig (type T 3 Prussian (de)), 1906 - Out of service (undergoing complete restoration).
Diesel locomotives
• Decauville, 1960 - Operational
• Blanc-Misseron, 1958 - Out of service (undergoing complete restoration).
• SACM (no. 10019), 1956 - Operational
• Moyse, 1968 – Operational
• Brissonneau and Lotz, 1971 - Operational
• CFD, 1965 - Operational
• CFD, 1965 - Out of service (undergoing complete restoration).
• SACM/Alstom/CAFL, 1956 Decauville, 1967 – Out of service (undergoing complete restoration).Baudet, Donon and Roussel – Shunter rebuilt to SACM plans in 1961 with a Baudouin engine. - Operational
• Decauville, 1967 – Shunter Operational
Accumulator locomotive
• Orenstein & Koppel no. 320 13-ton accumulator locomotive, from a foundry in Niederbronn-les-Bains.
Railcars
• X 5822 - Out of service (undergoing complete restoration).
• Billard railcar no. 902, type A 75 D built in 1947, ex-CFD of Indre-et-Loire, entrusted by the FACS;
• X 2208 ex-Limoges depot, entrusted under agreement with the SNCF, on loan to the Central Brittany railways;
• X 2251 ex-Limoges depot, entrusted under agreement with the SNCF, on loan to the Central Brittany railways.