the station was opened in january 1879 by the london and south western railway (lswr) following the extension of its line from meldon junction on the okehampton to plymouth line to holsworthy on the new bude branch. five years later, it became a junction station with the construction by the north cornwall railway of a line south to launceston which gave the latter company a direct through route over lswr metals to london waterloo. the opening of the route south led to the renaming of the station - to "halwill junction" - in march 1887. by the close of the century both lines had been extended - the bude branch reaching bude by 10 august 1898 and the north cornwall line to padstow by 23 march 1899.