 During the Second World War, the Langenthal-Jura Railway ran into financial hardship and asked the authorities for financial aid.The Canton of Berne essentially approved support for the almost two and a half kilometers long "Niederbipp"–"Oensingen" section.This had long since become rundown and unprofitable as a result of competition with the SBB, it had been relocated on state roads, it had fallen into a poor condition due to a lack of maintenance and it also had the political disadvantage of running to another canton.