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The Severn Valley line was used for both passenger and freight traffic. However it remained single track throughout its life, and as a consequence rarely saw significant use as a through connecting route apart from brief spells during the two World Wars when it was used to bypass the congested lines of the West Midlands. Indeed it is likely that most passengers only traveled on part of the line during their journey.
The line was rarely at the forefront of railway technology, although 1905 saw the use of brand new [[GWR Steam Railmotor|steam railcars ]] between Bewdley, Kidderminster and Stourport. A year earlier the GWR also introduced a motor [[Bridgnorth steam bus service|steam omnibus service between Bridgnorth and Wolverhampton]].
The peak period of use of the line was between 1880 and 1920. After that time passenger and freight traffic began to decline, although this was mitigated within the section used by the present day SVR by the opening of the West Midlands Sugar Co (later British Sugar Corporation) factory at Foley Park, Kidderminster in 1925 and [[Alveley Colliery]] at [[Highley]] beginning coal delivery by rail in 1939. A number of halts such as [[Northwood Halt]], [[Jackfield Halt]] and [[Cound Halt]] were introduced in the 1930s in a bid to attract more local custom.
