The station was originally opened by the Eastern Union Railway in 1846 but rebuilt by the Great Eastern Railway in 1899-1901 when the present main building was designed by W.N. Ashbee. Immediately east of the station there is a triangle of junctions, known as Manningtree South, North and East junctions. The main line and the branch connection from London are double track, but the north to east curve connecting Ipswich with Harwich is single track. All three sides of the triangle are electrified. Part of the platform building houses a pub, known as the Station Buffet.