It is 44 miles 78 chains (72.38 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street via Witham; the preceding station on the route is Braintree Freeport to the south.

The first, which was the northern terminus of the Maldon, Witham & Braintree Railway, opened on 2 October 1848.

[1] That station was closed to passengers with the opening of the Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow & Braintree Railway on 22 February 1869,[2] when the old terminus was replaced by a through-station on the new line.

[3][4] Passenger services on the route between Braintree and Bishop's Stortford ceased on 3 March 1952.

[2] All services at Braintree are operated by Greater Anglia using Class 720 EMUs.