By 1931, Milfraen Colliery had ceased production having exhausted its coal reserves and the branch line that served it was lifted in 1937. After the Depression and unemployment of the 1930s, passenger services were withdrawn from the station and the line on 5 May 1941 due to the exigencies of the Second World War. Blaenavon shed closed on 5 September 1942 and eventually goods services also ceased on 23 June 1954. The line was retained for wagon storage until 1953, and around 1950, a temporary siding was laid in connection with opencast workings on the Blorenge, branching east roughly at the point where the Milfraen Colliery branch had previously diverged west.