Work was allowed to start on the railway in 1854, along with a line from to , the line opened on 1 June 1859. The branch became part of the London & North Eastern Railway in 1923 and British Railways from 1948. Well used until the 1930s when passenger numbers fell due to the popularity of road transport the line closed to passenger services on 1 November 1952, and to freight on 19 April 1963.