With the decline in local passenger and goods traffic in the 1950s many intermediate stations closed, but the main line continues in important use at the present day.

There was a clear inclination towards the London and North Western Railway, which at that time was seeking access to the South Wales industrial area.

A financial slump followed, and it became impossible to get money for railway projects, and the directors were unable to proceed.

A single track line, and use of the Leominster Canal bed for the formation of the railway might bring the cost down to £480,000.

In fact the time limit for construction set by Parliament expired and new powers were obtained in 1850.

[5] The days of austerity seemed to have passed, and the Shrewsbury station was of an elaborate character in the Tudor Gothic style.

The station was ready and in use by the S&BR and the Shropshire Union Railway joint line (from Wellington) on 1 June 1849.

A mile of single line from what became Barr's Court Junction to Barton station at Hereford, connecting in to the NA&HR line, was not opened until 14 days later due to a lack of proper signals at the junction.

The income from Brassey's contract enabled the company to pay 6% dividends on ordinary shares.

The LNWR at once offered to lease the line on good terms, at 6%, but in a spirit of openness asked that the GWR be invited to join in the arrangement.

Although this was a decent offer, the GWR fought strenuously in Parliament against the proposal, but lost thoroughly in Committee.

Pearson wrote in 1932: It was not until 1888 that the "North and West" expresses of the London and North Western and Great Western Railways were introduced, coincidentally with the opening of the Severn Tunnel, the Shrewsbury and Hereford line, thus attaining for the first time the dignity of a main line of first-rank importance...[19]The Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway had been leased jointly by the LNWR and the GWR jointly.

[22] After the Beeching reforms cross-country services to the south-west of England were redirected to all run via Birmingham New Street, where they could pick up a larger amount of traffic, and the usage of the old Shrewsbury & Hereford railway declined.

A mineral line from Ludlow to Bitterley opened on 24 August 1864; it too was five miles (8 km) long.

Approaching from the south, the climb is about the same length, with gradients up to 1 in 92 and a punishing final two miles (3.2 km) at 1 in 112.