A report on minor stations in the Wairarapa in the early 1980s noted of Kopuaranga that passenger traffic had fallen to negligible levels.

[10] Facilities provided by the Department included a passenger platform and shelter, a crossing loop with a capacity of 51 wagons, a goods shed, and a loading bank.

[9] A portable stock loading race and pen was constructed at the station by a local farmer in 1947 using materials provided by the Department.

After difficulty was experienced with using the detachable race to load double-decker stock wagons, lifting equipment (including a hoist and winch) was provided in 1951.

When the loading race was destroyed in a shunting accident in 1955 it was proposed to close the station to all goods traffic on account of the low volume handled there.

This move was delayed, at first by a desire to retain the loop for train crossing purposes should that be required by a change in traffic patterns brought about by the Rimutaka Tunnel, and later by objections from local farmers.

The Department was agreeable to the proposal on the understanding that goods traffic at the station would increase, and supplied the materials to the farmers who carried out the work, completed in 1959.

[11] At the cessation of goods traffic in 1966, it was noted that facilities at the station included the passenger shelter and platform, cattle and sheep yards, and a 49 wagon capacity loop.

Following an approach made by two local farmers wanting to lease the cattleyards, it was decided to retain them for this purpose but the sheep yard, then in poor condition, was sold for removal.

For a period of seven years from 27 November 1988, the northern section of the Wairarapa Line was effectively mothballed, with no trains scheduled to pass through Kopuaranga.

3, 4, 5 on the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line in Q3 2008, and thus the removal of the impediment to running hi-cube containers through the Manawatū Gorge,[13] the Wellington – Napier freight services were redirected to their original route from Q4 2008.