[17][18][19] The last grain train from Kevin to Penong operated on 3 March 1997 with the line reverting to state government ownership on 30 June 2001.

[9][page needed] Due to a poor harvest resulting from drought, the last grain train north of Cummins to Kimba ran on 20 December 2018.

[20] Grain trains ceased operating in May 2019, when Viterra moved its business to road haulage, leaving only gypsum traffic on the Lake MacDonnell–Thevenard railway line remaining.

[citation needed] The Wudinna to Penong Junction section remained open to facilitate rolling stock movements to and from the Port Lincoln workshops.

[30][note 1] In March 2023, Aurizon and grain-handling company Viterra applied to the Australian Government for A$220 million to upgrade the abandoned lines on the lower Eyre Peninsula so that heavier, faster (and therefore more efficient) trains could operate than previously.

The proposal included upgrading of the outloading facilities at Viterra's sites at Lock, Wudinna, Cummins, Kimba and Rudall, and reducing turnaround times and increasing volume at Port Lincoln.

Benefits would include reduction of about 25,000 t (25,000 long tons) of CO2 equivalent a year and removal of about 42,000 truck movements from Eyre Peninsula roads.

Rowan Ramsey, the member for the federal Division of Grey, said that while he would love to see more freight off the roads, there would need to be "a substantial business case for the rebuild of the rail line to be successful.

However, a founder of the March for Eyre group, Marie Shaw, said claims that Viterra was using taxpayers' money after they "pulled their trade" was incorrect.

Nine were delivered new to the Eyre Peninsula Railway, while others were transferred from the Port Pirie to Broken Hill line after it was converted to standard gauge replacing the last remaining T class steam locomotives in April 1970.

[24] As of January 2023[update], the Thevenard based locomotive fleet is worked by two NJs, the two 1200s and a handful of operational 830/900 class units.

[34][page needed] When the line opened, a depot was established at Cummins with locomotives sent to Islington Railway Workshops in Adelaide for major work.

[9][page needed] With the closure of the grain network, the Thevenard facility was expected to be upgraded when the Port Lincoln depot closed.

[43] As of December 2019[update], the Port Lincoln Workshops remained open for re-skinning wagon interiors brought in by road from the nearby BHP Whyalla Tramway.