The Badminton line, a shorter route from Wootton Bassett to the Seven Tunnel than the one via Bristol, was opened on July 1, 1903. When this line was being built a temporary connection was laid from the Malmesbury branch westwards for the purpose of bringing materials to the new line. It is still possible to trace this when standing at Kingsmead Crossing, for the site of the former siding can be seen rising up the embankment of the South Wales line.
Nearly thirty years later, a permanent connecting line was laid alongside the up Badminton line from Little Somerford instead of Dauntsey. However, a legal hitch deferred the abandonment from Kingsmead Crossing to Dauntsey, and the new spur was not used until Monday, July 17, 1933, when the line between Dauntsey and Kingsmead Crossing was closed. The length of the branch was thus altered from 6 ½ to 3 ¾ miles.
The Malmesbury Railway used a short terminal bay at the west end of the up platform at Dauntsey, and this remained in situ until dismantled in April, 1956. There was a through connection by means of a trailing point with the up main line. Leaving the station, the line curved north-west and passed under the Chippenham to Swindon road. This bridge is now removed and the railway partly filled-in. The line crossed the River Avon and passed Dauntsey Road Crossing, protected by distant signals, re-crossed the Avon, and arrived at Great Somerford, 2 ¾ miles. Immediately south of the station a lane was crossed by the railway leaving headroom of only 7 ft. This proved insufficient, so the G.W.R. built a parallel road with a level crossing; the road was given over to the Wiltshire County Council when the railway was abandoned.
