Operating speeds on much of the line are relatively high, with large stretches cleared for up to running. The London end of the line has as many as eight tracks plus the two Windsor Lines built separately, but this narrows to four by and continues this way until Worting Junction west of , from which point most of the line is double track. A couple of miles from the Waterloo terminus, the line runs briefly alongside the Brighton main line west branch out of , including through – the busiest station in Europe by railway traffic. Tourist special services to a lesser frequency use the line, such as the Cathedrals Express.