Operated as an historical seafront tourist attraction, the railway does not usually run during the winter months, and its service is also liable to occasional suspension due to severe weather or maintenance issues.

On 4 April 1884, the line was extended a further 1⁄2 mile (0.8 km) beyond the Chain Pier to Paston Place (now known as Halfway), and regauged to 2 ft 8+1⁄2 in (825 mm).

The electrical supply was increased to 160 V DC and the power plant was installed in the arch built into the cliff face at Paston Place.

Owing to problems concerning the construction of lengthened groynes to the east of Paston Place this closed in 1901, although it was not finally dismantled until 1910.

Following the closure Volk's original electric railway was extended from Paston Place (today's Halfway) to Black Rock on 21 February 1901.

In 1995 the Volk's Electric Railway Association was formed to help Brighton & Hove City Council promote and operate the line.

[5] In the late 1990s, the Black Rock end of the line was shortened by 211 feet to permit a storm water storage scheme to be built in the marina area.

[5] In 2014, it was announced that the railway had been awarded a grant of £1.6 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund, a sum which had to be spent by March 2017.

The work funded included: the provision of a new visitor centre and ticket office at the Aquarium station; a new five-road depot (four stock roads and one through running line) with engineering facilities, inspection pit, and public viewing gallery at Halfway; the restoration of cars 4, 6, and 10 from a semi-derelict state to full working order; and the provision of new educational materials about the railway.

The line has a 2 ft 8+1⁄2 in (825 mm) narrow gauge, is electrified at 110 V DC using a third rail, and is one mile (1.6 km) long.

The station was completely rebuilt in 2016-2017 and now has toilets, a cafeteria, staff rooms, a ticket office, and an exhibition centre.

Subsequently, a corporation swimming pool gave further purpose to the location, and today it is close to the thriving Brighton Marina.

This was in turn closed and demolished in the winter of 1936-1937 when the line was shortened to allow for the construction of the Black Rock swimming pool.

This new station, which reverted to the original Black Rock name, was provided with only one platform (plus ticket office and toilets), and remains in current use.

There was also a temporary Black Rock station constructed, with platform and booking office, during the storm drain project of the mid-1990s.

A following train is required to signal its approach to a pedestrian crossing point by sounding its klaxon horn.

Members receive a quarterly magazine, reduced rate travel on the railway and free admission to a series of winter meetings held in Brighton.

The association also acts as a collector for Volk's memorabilia and ephemera, some of which can be seen at the South Downs Heritage Centre in Hassocks.