it was originally a minor intermediate station on the london and north western railway single track rugby and stamford railway line, which opened in 1850. in 1873 it became a junction when the lnwr double tracked the line from rugby to seaton and opened a new double track line thence to wansford. rugby to peterborough was then operated as the main line and seaton to stamford as a branch line. in 1894 the branch line to uppingham was opened.