the station was formerly known as roberts after the adjacent neighborhood. the fitchburg railroad opened from waltham to concord on june 17, 1844; however, roberts station was not opened until around 1870. in 1977 or 1978, the station was renamed brandeis-roberts (later styled brandeis/roberts) to denote the growing university. a $70,000 renovation of the station was completed on december 18, 1986. accessible mini-high platforms were installed either in that renovation or around 1991.