On privatisation in 1994, it was initially operated by First North Western, then First TransPennine Express from 2005 and since April 2016 by Northern.

Entry to and exit from the branch is controlled by the signalling centre at Carlisle and before a service can proceed beyond the branch platform at Oxenholme, the driver must collect the train staff from a cabinet on the platform, which is electrically released by the Carlisle signaller.

Previously Class 175 "Coradias" operated the services provided by First North Western and TPE until 2006.

The £5,500 per day reported cost (total approx £80,000 over two weeks of operation) is said to have been paid for by the Department for Transport.

[8][9] The £16 million scheme would have allowed through trains from Lancaster and points south to use electric stock (such as the Class 350 "Desiro" units) rather than the current DMUs and also improve capacity on the route to allow new direct services to London Euston.

Platform 3 at Oxenholme Lake District was electrified in 2018 despite the cancelled branch line electrification.