National Route 17 and its historical predecessor, the Nakasendō, run parallel to the line.

Northbound trains mostly terminate at Takasaki or Kagohara, with some at Maebashi or Shin-Maebashi.

Prior to the opening of the Joetsu Shinkansen in 1982 and the Nagano Shinkansen in 1997, many Niigata- and Nagano-bound limited express and express services used the line, including the Toki, Asama, and Hakutaka.

From the start of March 2024 timetable revision, southbound Urban services to Ueno were ended, which now fully operates one-way.

Unlike regular Ueno bound or originating trains, they bypass Saitama-Shintoshin as that station has no platform for the tracks used by the Shonan-Shinjuku Line.

Special rapid trains operate once hourly to Takasaki, making limited stops.

Rapid trains operate once hourly to Kagohara, stopping at all stations while within the Takasaki line; this increases 2-3 times an hour during the mornings and evenings, when Takasaki-, Odawara-, and Kozu-bound trains also operate.