A number of stations in the area both past and present have borne the name Shepherd's Bush; today the National Rail station shares its name with the adjacent Central line Shepherd's Bush, with which it shares a surface-level interchange.

[6] Shepherd's Bush station was designed and funded by the Westfield Group as part of a Section 106 redevelopment contribution, and construction was project-managed by Capita Symonds; this project also included the provision of an integrated bus interchange and the reconstruction of the London Underground Central line station.

Building work on the West London line station began in early 2006 and it was due to open in summer 2007.

[10] With a 2007 opening date in mind, the station was to have been served by Silverlink trains, and it was fitted out with Silverlink-branded signage.

[11][12] Services on the Mildmay line of the London Overground operate using Class 378 EMUs; National Rail services along the West London line operated by Southern are run using related Class 377 EMUs.