On June 1, 1853, the Charles River Branch Railroad was extended from Newton Upper Falls into Needham as the first stage of a line to Dover and beyond.

[1] The railroad was not able to follow its original plan to go through the East Village, Needham's historical center, because one landowner refused to sell; instead, it was routed to Great Plain station in Great Plain Village further to the east.

A large granolithic platform with a canopy over much of its length was completed in 1911, by which point it was known as Needham Junction.

The original station building is now an ice cream parlor; MBTA tickets are sold as well.

[2] Since April 1981, MBTA bus route 59 has terminated in a loop at the west end of the station parking lot.