By the late 1890s coal traffic had all but disappeared and the government initially expressed a desire to remove the line.

From the 1840s, railways took an increasing share of coal traffic.

While trade in a wide variety of commodities steadily increased, coal traffic did not.

The remaining coal traffic on the line ceased in 1966.

Today the quayside still has coal traffic and associated industries.

Goods and coal traffic was accepted from 15 May 1850.

But the coal traffic sharply declined during the 1980s, and the mines were closed in 2000.

Subsequently all coal traffic was routed to the new terminal.

The coal traffic was very profitable, and the canal remained in use until 1949.

Nonetheless, coal traffic was more than sufficient to keep the branch in service.