 The original line had been authorised as far as Holsworthy where a station was opened on 20 January 1879.The Holsworthy and Bude Railway Act (c.ccii) was passed on 20 August 1883.However no works were commenced on the extension and the deadline for completion of the line by October 1891 was looking unlikely to be met, resulting in the LSWR asking for an extra year to complete the works.