Although primarily built as a goods line to serve the many mills on the Water of Leith, a passenger service was provided by the Caledonian Railway using the Balerno Loop and after grouping by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, seeing formal closure to passenger traffic shortly after nationalisation.

The line passed to the Scottish Region of British Railways upon nationalisation in 1948 who then officially closed Colinton in 1949.

[6][7] A set of steep steps, known locally as 'Jacob's Ladder' gave access to the area above the tunnel portal where the stationmaster's house was located, one occupant being John Kerr.

[8][9] The goods shed and a siding are still shown on the 1955 OS map, the passenger station having closed in 1943.

[10] The station is now part of the Water of Leith cyclepath that follows much of the route of the Balerno Loop and the goods yard is a car park.