The line was built to relieve the existing network of railways in the Ruhr region, which was at the limit of its capacity, especially for freight traffic.

The passenger services were always planned to be thin, despite there being several major cities along the route, as the line was mainly intended for freight traffic.

The track is occasionally used, however, between Hamm and Horstmar junction as a detour route for passenger trains on the main Dortmund–Hamm line.

At branch Blumenthal there are a single-track connecting route 2223 to Recklinghausen Hauptbahnhof - served by the Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn Line S 9 since September 11, 2020.

In Westerholt there is a transfer station to Zechen- und Hafenbahn der RBH Logistics (Mines and Port Railway).

(end 2024) The Gladbeck West station today is now a junction station served by the S-Bahn (Recklinghausen / Haltern am See - Gladbeck West - Bottrop - Essen - Wuppertal - Hagen) and the regional services towards Dorsten - Borken / Coesfeld on the connecting line to Gladbeck-Zweckel on the Winterswijk–Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck railway.

North of the tracks is a freight loading facility with a now decommissioned hump for the Zechen- und Hafenbahn der RBH Logistics.

At the end of the line is located Oberhausen-Osterfeld Süd station, including one of the largest railway yards of the region, whose importance for passengers is, however, marginal.

Today the following passenger services use part of the line: Special 15 minutes interval RE 14 / S 9 service: Gladbeck West – Bottrop Hbf – Essen-Borbeck – Essen Hbf – Essen-Steele Gladbeck West is a separation station towards Recklinghausen, Haltern am See and Dorsten There is no longer a direct passenger train connection between Gelsenkirchen-Buer Nord and Oberhausen, so passengers on this route are forced to change in Gladbeck West or Bottrop.