The tracks through Roding Valley were opened on 1 May 1903 by the Great Eastern Railway (GER) on its Woodford to Ilford line (the Fairlop Loop).

[9] The station was not opened until 3 February 1936 by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER, successor to the GER).

As part of the 1935–1940 New Works Programme of the London Passenger Transport Board the majority of the Woodford to Ilford loop was to be transferred to form the eastern extensions of the Central line.

From the mid-1960s until the early 1990s the Woodford-Hainault section was largely operated separately from the rest of the Central line, using four-car (later three-car) trains of 1960 Stock.

[11] Because of this, it is normally quicker to travel to Woodford and change there,[10] as trains to central London run frequently from that point.

At the buildup to the peak periods, some trains starting from Hainault depot operate to central London via Grange Hill, Chigwell, Roding Valley and Woodford.

[13] Roding Valley station is on the Hainault loop of the Central line between Chigwell to the west and Woodford to the east.

The train service (which used to end at 8pm each day) has been extended to midnight to take into account the rising passenger numbers.