Today, it forms part of the Wirral Line network, a commuter rail system operated by Merseyrail.

The ordinary public service started the next day, 23 September, with five passenger trains each way daily, three on Sundays.

In the first year the company did not do well financially; this was partly due to very large interest payments on loans and ferry terminal rental, and disappointing income.

This was less than the line had cost to construct, and other events drew the disparity to the attention of shareholders, so that the deal was suddenly rejected on 30 March 1845. and several board members resigned.

The line was about a mile long, and was disproportionately expensive as it ran in newly developed residential areas required extensive bridging and retaining wall construction.

Because of the considerable extra traffic expected, double track was laid on the main line, and was completed in the same year.

[11][4] Ferry arrangements which had seemed satisfactory in the earlier years were now seen to be commercially adverse, and the diversion of Chester to Liverpool passengers via Runcorn unsettled the Birkenhead commissioners.

Provision of funding and decision making took several years, but on 30 September 1985 electric operation took place from Rock Ferry to Hooton.

[16] Services are operated by Merseyrail as part of the Wirral Line network with trains running every 15 minutes between Birkenhead and Chester.

Additionally trains run between Birkenhead and Hooton every 30 minutes and continue to Ellesmere Port on the Hooton–Helsby line.