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A continued decline in traffic numbers led to the announcement by BR(W) in June 1962 that passenger services would be completely withdrawn between Shrewsbury and Bewdley (and also reduced south of Bewdley). At that time the British Transport Commission ('BTC') report "The Reshaping of British Railways" was still in course of preparation. Statistics gathered in September 1962 by officials working on the report would undoubtedly have reinforced BR's argument for the ending of passenger services.
Following consultation with Bridgnorth Council and others at a public meeting in November 1962, the Transport Users Consultative Committee ('TUCC') appealed to the BTC objecting to the closure. While this appeal was being considered, 'The Beeching Report' (as it came to be known) was published on 27 March 1963. The BTC saw no grounds to agree to the TUCC's appeal, and on 2 August 1963 the Transport Minister [[Ernest Marples ]] approved the closure for passenger services with effect from 9 September.<ref name=Magner32>[[Bibliography#Books|Magner (1997)]] pp. 32-35.</ref> Thus the closure of the line was ultimately the responsibility of BR rather than a direct result of the 'Beeching Axe'.
When the end of passenger services north of Bewdley was formally announced following the Minister's decision, assurances were given that freight services would continue throughout the line. However even before the passenger services had ended, plans for the new [[Ironbridge power station]] were published by the CEGB showing cooling towers on the track bed at Buildwas.<ref name=Magner32/>