The station lies on the north-south Midland Main Line and is served by First Capital Connect trains as part of the Thameslink Line service. It is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 3 and Travelcard Zone 4. It was built by the Midland Railway in 1868 on its extension to St. Pancras. From 1875 the Midland opened a service to Victoria on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway and received coaches from the London and South Western Railway for attachment to north-bound trains.