The Malmesbury branch train used the main line platforms, as no bay was provided. Following closure of the Dauntsey section, the former line was not immediately lifted, and it was used for wagon storage. From July 1934 the configuration was changed, to access the track from the Somerford end, a connection being laid in specially, referred to as Kingsmead Siding. After the War, passenger usage of the line declined abruptly; a two-hourly regular bus service from Swindon to Bristol via Malmesbury was started in 1948, providing much more convenience than the train service, and other services to Chippenham and elsewhere soon followed. A survey showed that only 23 passengers used the 11:35 train from Malmesbury in a sample week. Closure was inevitable despite local opposition, and the last train ran on 8 September 1951. Goods traffic continued on the branch; Malmesbury signal box was abolished in 1956, with the yard points being hand worked. Business continued to decline and total closure of the branch took place on 11 November 1962.