The station opened on 2 September 1889,[1] and was specially built for the local strawberry industry.

[2] The station is near a small industrial estate between the residential areas of Locks Heath and Whiteley.

The railway line between Netley and Fareham was built by the London and South Western Railway; it was authorised on 20 August 1883, construction began in April 1886, and the line was opened on 2 September 1889.

[3] The local area's strawberry industry provided up to 7,000 tons each year in the late 1800s.

Services at Swanwick are operated by Southern and South Western Railway using Class 377 and 450 EMUs.