| Chard branch line | |
|---|---|
 The bridge over the River Tone at Creech St Michael | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Dismantled |
| Owner | LSWR/SR (from Chard Jn) B&ER/GWR (from Creech) |
| Locale | Somerset |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 8 |
| Service | |
| Type | Cross country |
| History | |
| Opened | 1863 (from Chard Jn) 1866 (from Creech) |
| Closed | 1962 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 3.06 mi (4.9 km) (from Chard Jn) 12.79 mi (20.6 km) (from Creech) |
| Number of tracks | 1 |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The Chard branch lines were two lines serving the town of Chard in Somerset, England. One was a northward branch, opened in 1863, from the Salisbury to Exeter main line, and the other, opened in 1866, ran south-eastwards from the Bristol – Taunton main line. Each branch had its own Chard passenger station at first, although the two lines connected in Chard.
Although the town had an important history, it was declining during the second half of the twentieth century and the branch lines retained a rural character.
They were operated as a single entity from 1917, but finally closed to passenger traffic in 1962, and to goods traffic in 1966.
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