The line ended at Kleve station on the Lower Left Rhine Railway (built by the RhE).

[2] In the 1980s, many industrial enterprises and mines in Duisburg and the other cities of the Ruhr were shut down, so that fewer commuters used the line and it became less profitable over time.

Ridership declined so far that Deutsche Bundesbahn decided to abandon the section of the line between Kleve and Xanten.

[citation needed] The Lower Rhine line is served by Regionalbahn passenger service RB 31 (Der Niederrheiner) between Duisburg and Xanten, running daily at hourly intervals.

The service was operated until December 2009 by DB Regio NRW, using Bombardier Talent (class 643) diesel multiple units in single or double sets.