In The Twentieth Century
In 1910 the L&SWR and the GWR made an agreement aimed at securing economies in localities where both companies had an activity. One consequence of the agreement was that the L&SWR Chard Town station (including the platform on the spur line) would close and the GWR would provide the passenger service throughout from Taunton to Chard Junction. This arrangement was given effect on 1 January 1917. Separate signal boxes were maintained until 1928.
In 1923 the Grouping of the railways took place, pursuant to the Railways Act, 1921 and the L&SWR was a constituent part of the new Southern Railway (SR).
In 1928 Chard Joint station was renamed simply Chard; two additional stations were opened in 1928 on the GWR section: Donyatt Halt south of Ilminster, and Ilton Halt north of Ilminster. Both railways were nationalised in 1948 but were initially managed as two separate regions – the GWR becoming the Western Region and the SR became the Southern Region.
In November 1935 the engine turntable at Chard was removed, as tank engines were in use on the line.
In 1949 Chard station was renamed Chard Central.
A fuel shortage in 1951 led to the line being temporarily closed from 3 February to 7 May.
The sparse population in the area, and more convenient bus services, made the passenger train service of dubious viability, and a census in July 1961 showed that an average of only 155 fare paying passengers alighting from branch trains, including at Chard Junction and Taunton; an average of four passengers alighted from the trains arriving at Chard station.
Passenger services were withdrawn permanently on 10 September 1962 and the line closed completely between Creech and Chard on 6 July 1964. Public goods traffic was retained at the original Town station at Chard until 3 October 1966.
Read more about this topic: Chard Branch Line
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