The Boston and Providence Railroad (B&P) opened through Mansfield in 1835, with a flat-roofed depot built near the modern station site.

[2] The Old Colony was absorbed by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1893, unifying rail service in southeastern Massachusetts under the single operator.

In 1955, the New Haven Railroad raised the tracks through Mansfield to eliminate grade crossings; the branch to Taunton was severed and all South Coast service ran via Stoughton until it was cut three years later.

[2] The same month, game-day service from Boston and Providence to Foxboro station at the New England Patriots' newly opened Schaefer Stadium was introduced.

The new brick station opened in January 2004; it also serves as a town meeting hall for community functions.

[15][16] Mansfield is located on a straight section of the Northeast Corridor where the Acela Express is permitted to travel at its top speed of 150 mph (240 km/h).

[note 1] A fence is located between the tracks to prevent passengers from crossing, due to the danger from high-speed trains.

The station was closed through the next day because hazardous materials workers had to clean the site because of the high speed of the collision.