The railway line from Southampton to Dorchester was completed in 1847 but, for reasons of cost, it by-passed Christchurch and Poole.

There was a station on this line at Holmsley which was called 'Christchurch Road' - passengers for the town had to alight here and transfer to an omnibus for the remainder of their journey.

The railway arrived properly in Christhurch in 1862 with the opening of the railway station in Bargates.