 The line was one of several schemes promoted in the 19th century that included north-south lines connecting Great Dunmow with Epping, Halstead and/or Saffron Walden.The route of the built line was proposed by the Eastern Counties Railway in 1859 but the line from Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree was built by the Great Eastern Railway which had absorbed ECR.Construction started in 1864 and the line opened on 22 February 1869 serving Takeley, Felstead and Rayne and opened in 1895, in 1910, and Stane Street and in 1922.