In 2017, the West Midlands Combined Authority announced that they would restore services to the line over the following decade, with new stations at Willenhall Bilston Street and Darlaston James Bridge.

Built as a long-distance trunk route, the original GJR line did not directly serve either Walsall or Wolverhampton, instead running around the outskirts of both of them.

However the local passenger service was withdrawn in 1965 as part of the Beeching Axe, and the line's remaining intermediate stations at Darlaston James Bridge and Willenhall Bilston Street were closed.

However, in 2005 the Strategic Rail Authority proposed the withdrawal of the service, citing low passenger numbers and a lack of rolling stock.

[5] Although Centro retained ambitions to reinstate the service and reopen stations at Willenhall Bilston Street and Portobello, its plans were put on hold in 2012 pending the next West Midlands franchise award in 2016.

[3] The West Midlands Combined Authority have announced their intention to restore a passenger service to the line, along with new stations at Willenhall Bilston Street and Darlaston James Bridge.

[11] From the timetable change on Sunday 15 May 2022, London Northwestern Railway services between Crewe and Birmingham New Street via Stoke-on-Trent, began running on the line again, in preparation for the opening of new stations at Darlaston and Willenhall.