[3] The line runs from Balham Junction on the Brighton Main Line route into London Victoria to Beckenham Junction, via Streatham Hill and Crystal Palace.

The following year the original line from Pimlico to Norwood Junction was sold to the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, and the section from Bromley Junction to Shortlands to the London, Chatham and Dover Railway, but the WEL&CPR continued to provide its own passenger services.

The two halves were reunited in 1921 as part of the Southern Railway following enactment of the Grouping Act.

Southern provides most services, with trains from London Victoria running through to West Croydon and services from London Bridge terminating at Beckenham Junction.

[4] The line also provides a diversionary route for Thameslink services avoiding London Bridge – usually this is only in the peaks or during the night, but the Thameslink Programme engineering works have made it necessary for some Bedford to Brighton services to take this route throughout the day.