However, this service ceased prior to the standard gauge conversion because of the expense of operating the line.

[1] Services from Adelaide to Bridgewater usually took an average of one hour (stopping all stations), and about 50 minutes (express).

This was because the line was single track (which is still the case today) with crossing loops located at Belair, Long Gully, Mount Lofty, Aldgate and Bridgewater.

When the more direct South Eastern Freeway opened in the late 1960s, patronage to Bridgewater declined heavily as the steep winding rail corridor alignment meant rail journey times were significantly longer than that of motor vehicles.

Between Goodwood and Belair, the former double track route became two parallel single lines, one broad gauge for suburban services (owned by the state government), the other standard gauge for interstate and freight services (owned by the federal government).