Later known as the Walsall to Wolverhampton Line (not to be confused with the modern Walsall to Wolverhampton Line which is the former L&NWR route), it was never particularly successful as a passenger route and enjoyed only a meagre patronage at best. Some stations were closed within only a few years of the line's opening and all passenger services were withdrawn on 5 January 1931. However, the line remained open to goods traffic until 28 September 1964 when it was divided into two sections just west of the former Bentley station by construction work commencing on the Walsall to Stafford section of the M6 motorway.