It is 61 miles 43 chains (61.54 mi; 99.0 km) measured from the zero point at London Paddington.

The Great Western Railway opened the station in 1847 as a temporary terminus of the Berks and Hants Line which started at Reading.

It eventually reached Taunton on 2 April 1906 to allow the running of express trains from London Paddington through to the south west without taking the longer route through Bristol.

[citation needed] Hungerford station is on the eastern side of the town.

The Kennet and Avon Canal runs to the north of the station, parallel with the line.