Chard Junction signal box remained open to control Station Road level crossing and a passing loop on the long section of single track railway between Yeovil Junction and Pinhoe until March 2021, when control was passed to Basingstoke.

Taken over by the Wiltshire United Co-operative Society, in 1974 a second hand Ruston and Hornsby 0-4-0 replaced it (304470 built 1951), which had previously been locomotive 12 at Windsor Street gas works in Birmingham.

Passenger trains were withdrawn from the Chard branch on 10 September 1962, although goods traffic continued for a few years more.

[2] Further rationalisation saw the main line reduced to just a single track in 1967, although a passing loop was retained at Chard Junction.

The old level crossing gates were removed in January 1968 and replaced by full road-width lifting barriers.

In front of the station entrance was the road approach and, opposite this, a separate platform used by the Chard branch trains.

In 2010 the site was sold by the former British Railways Board and offered to Somerset County Council who declined to buy it as they thought it would cost too much money to re-open it.

[citation needed] Based solely upon this statement the local planning authority, South Somerset District Council, are currently[when?]

In January 2012 a planning application for a concrete batching facility was lodged by Darch and Sons, currently[when?]

Supporters of the campaign include David Laws MP, county and district councillors and the local newspaper the Chard and Ilminster News.

[citation needed] The support group has accused the local planning authority and county council of "following in the footsteps of Beeching".

[citation needed] Following the government's support for expanding the railway network it has been proposed that Chard Junction could reopen.

[15] In August, Network Rail agreed to assess the feasibility of trains stopping at the new station, undertaking a timetable study.