On 30 November 1959, off-peak services on the line were cut to 20 minutes during the day and about 35 minutes at night, and on 23 October 1961, the Saturday frequency was cut to every 40 minutes. From 26 February 1968 Alamein trains ran at 23 minute frequencies during working hours, otherwise every 46 minutes. A one car Tait train took over the service on Sundays, the train guard selling tickets as station staff were withdrawn from every station except Ashburton, which remained open for safeworking reasons. From 9 July 1972, the service was cut to every hour on Sundays, and from 10 December 1973 it was changed to 20 minutes during the day and every 40 minutes at night and on Saturday afternoons. Through trains to Flinders Street off-peak were provided from 20 January 1975 at a frequency of every 15 minutes Monday to Friday, with Box Hill trains running express from Camberwell.