The line was single track and worked from the start by the Great Western Railway, which provided a service of three trains each way daily. The A&BR, which had for some time been in a parlous financial state, was absorbed by the Metropolitan Railway with effect from 1 July 1891.
The railway line operated as a single track and began functioning immediately with the Great Western Railway providing three trains per direction every day. In 1891, the A&BR, struggling financially, was absorbed by the Metropolitan Railway.