Opening dates for passenger services were: Hallett Cove Beach on 30 June 1974; Christie Downs on 25 January 1976 (This was a temporary terminus just north of Beach Road and adjacent to Hyacinth Crescent, and was in a different location to the current Christie Downs station, which opened in November 1981.

A number of railcars needed for peak-hour services are now stabled overnight in secure sidings at Port Stanvac, north of Lonsdale station, and at a much bigger facility adjacent to Seaford Meadows.

Stage 2 commenced in February 2011 with the line closed for six months and continued the upgrade works between Oaklands and Noarlunga.

On 2 January 2013, the line closed to allow for its electrification and extension, with trains being replaced by bus services.

[6] The completed project was opened by the South Australian Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis on 18 January 2014.

In 2005, the State Government announced the line would be extended 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) to the southern suburb of Seaford.

[13][14][15][16][17] In 2019, Renewal SA delivered a Draft Structure Plan of a 94 hectare area of land in Aldinga which is set to include a new school and a train station.

Previously, some stations were also serviced by trains from Brighton and from the Flinders branch line on weekdays.