The station opened to traffic in 1847, when the London and South Western Railway's branch from Southampton and Bishopstoke was built into the east side of Salisbury.

[5][6] The site at Milford was at the foot of a 1-in-150 gradient, which proved reasonably easy for shunting purposes, but expansion westwards to meet up with other projected railways in the city was complicated as the line would need to cross water meadows near the cathedral.

[8] Additionally, direct traffic from London via Andover had to draw past Milford Junction facing towards Bishopstoke (Eastleigh), and reverse into the station.

[11] Upon the opening of Salisbury Tunnel, all passenger traffic was diverted to the newer station in the Fisherton area of the city from 2 May 1859, with the Milford site being retained as a goods depot.

[14] Platform extensions and other buildings being sited at the Salisbury Fisherton station meant that the LSWR concentrated all its goods traffic at Milford.