The station is located on the A222 road. It was originally opened by the West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway on 3 May 1858, when it was named Bromley. Shortlands Junction, just west of the station, is where the Catford Loop Line joins the Chatham Main Line: the two lines are now split into Slow and Fast pairs through the station, which consists of two island platforms on an embankment. The station was enlarged and rebuilt to its present form in 1892-94.