[1] Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, it is the city's only diesel service on the metropolitan network and the tenth longest line at 31 kilometres (19 mi).

Headways of 90 to 120 minutes are operated throughout the day due to limited patronage and infrastructure constraints.

[3] Trains on the Stony Point line run as two one-car formations of V/Line Sprinter DMUs.

[4] The line was built to connect Melbourne and Frankston with the rural towns of Baxter, Hastings, and Bittern, amongst others.

[5] The Stony Point line initially operated from Frankston to Baxter station, with services commencing in 1888.

The units are selected from the normal V/Line fleet, and are not dedicated to operate the Stony Point service.

[18] In 2013, as part of Public Transport Victoria's Network Development Plan for metropolitan rail, an extension of the Frankston line to Baxter was earmarked to begin in the "long-term" (over the next 20 years).

[19] During the 2018 state election, the Liberal Party announced a project to extend electrified services to Baxter.

[24] The second Andrews government made no commitments to the Baxter rail extension, instead continuing construction on level crossing removal works along the Frankston line.

[24] The 2022 state election resulted in another Labor victory, with the Andrews government pushing ahead with these works.

[1][26] Train frequency is typically every 90 to 120 minutes throughout the day due to the line being single track with no passing loops.

[19] Unlike the rest of Melbourne's rail network, services do not run 24 hours a day on Friday nights and weekends.

[28] Train services on the Stony Point line are also subjected to maintenance and renewal works, usually on selected Fridays and Saturdays.

[36] The Stony Point line uses V/Line Sprinter diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains operating in a one or two-car configuration, with two doors per side on each carriage and accommodating up to 90 passengers in each car.

[41][42] The Stony Point line uses three position signalling which is widely used across the Melbourne train network.