 From Dumbarton to Balloch the line would have closely duplicated an existing railway, and negotiation led to the latter being made jointly operated, and the L&DR terminated immediately east of Dumbarton, trains continuing on the joint section.Since the twentieth century the county is now spelled "Dunbartonshire", but at the time of formation of the Company, "Dumbartonshire" was in common use, and that is the spelling the company adopted.The line opened progressively from 1894 to 1896.