Line was opened after the discovery of coal in 1907, hence its main use was for the transportation of coal to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The Japanese occupation saw removal of the portion between Batu Arang and Batang Berjuntai in the 1940s for use on the Burmese Death Railway, and was not reinstated after the war.

The coal mines in Batu Arang were closed down in stages starting in 1958, and by 1971, was completely shut down. The line was also subsequently closed. What prompted Malayan Railways to remove the line in 1971 is unclear at the moment, but speculations range from avoiding sabotage to the railway line by the communist to unstable soil from abandoned catacombs.

Today, few remnants of the system are left, mostly in the form of bridge abutments, crossing rails in Kuang and Pengkalan Kundang, Batu Arang station platform and a single telegraph pole, also in Batu Arang. The path of the line is reasonably intact, but traversing is not advisable as for most of the path the terrain is treacherously stony, uneven, and a bit far removed from civilisation. Most bridges are also gone leaving nothing but the abutment making creek/river crossing impossible.

For photos of the branch line, click here