It was built at this location in 1875 by the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad, replacing earlier stations dating back to the opening of the line in 1837.

Current rail services consist of Northeast Regional trains in each direction, most of which stop at the station.

Travel time for the 8+1⁄2-mile (13.7 km) trip between Kingston and Narragansett Pier was approximately 20 minutes[8] before passenger service ended unofficially in June, 1952.

[11] From September 1976 to October 1977 and January–April 1978 Amtrak's Clamdigger ran local service from Providence to New Haven with a stop at Kingston.

[12] Faced with declining ridership and the loss of state subsidies, the Beacon Hill was discontinued effective October 24, 1981, leaving Kingston with just intercity stopping service.

Kingston is located on one of several sections of track where the Acela Express is permitted to run at its top speed of 150 mph (240 km/h).

Kingston and Mansfield are the only stations where the Acela will pass through at full speed on tracks adjacent to platforms.

Since it is the only station between New London and Providence that can deboard passengers from Acela trains due to its high-level platforms, they occasionally do stop at Kingston in emergencies such as downed wires or problems with the locomotives.

Construction work also incorporated installation of drainage, retaining walls and poles to support catenary wires for the new track as well as renovations to the interior of the station.