 Despite the problems in coping with the output of the two new collieries at Eastern and Northern United, other traffic was in decline.Passengers were increasingly attracted to the more convenient motor bus services, and other collieries and industries were dwindling.Ruddle Road Halt had been closed on 29 April 1917 and Bilson Halt was closed again from 1 October 1920 although it reappeared in later timetables.