the station was opened as brentford road on 1 january 1869 by the london and south western railway (l&swr) on a new branch line to built from the west london joint railway starting north of addison road station (now ). the line ran through shepherd's bush and hammersmith via a now closed curve and grove road station in hammersmith (also now closed). a short connection was also made from the north & south western junction railway (n&swjr) line to meeting the l&swr line immediately north of the station. this line was served by the north london railway (nlr).