Coaching interests in Kingston were opposed to having a railway in the town and consequently the London and South Western Railway built its line to Southampton further south through Surbiton. This opposition continued even during the laying of the line from Twickenham although this line did reach a terminus in Kingston in 1863. In 1869 the line was extended through Norbiton to connect to the main line southwest of the present station. When Queen Victoria visited distinguished residents in the Coombe Hill area, the royal train stopped at Norbiton, the only station in the area where the platform is at ground level. New Malden and Kingston have many steps. It is the only remaining example of Victorian railway architecture in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
Station facilities
In February and March 2012 a secure, swipe-card accessible cycle park for 50 cycles was built on Platform 1 replacing the previous set of shelters and bike racks During August 2009 the platforms were fenced with high steel railings prior to the installation of ticket barriers. During 2011 the single-width 'off-peak' gated exit from platform 2 was doubled in width in order to cope with the large numbers of passengers leaving the station when the barriers are not operational. During 2014 the gated exit was widened again. During the autumn of 2014 the platforms 1 and 2 were raised and the edges reconstructed to reduce the step and gap for passengers getting on and off the trains. Earlier in 2014 the platforms were extended in preparation for longer trains. There is a 38 space car park and space for 5 vehicles reserved for South Western Railway staff.
The station was used as the filming location from which the title character caught his train each morning in the British sitcomThe Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. Although Reggie's home town in the series was called Climthorpe, a panning shot of the front of the station in the first episode shows him walking into Norbiton station. David Nobbs may have thought of Climthorpe as near Norbiton, since various other stations between New Malden and London are named in Reggie's various excuses to explain his poor punctuality . The station also appeared briefly in a 1971 episode of the Rodney BewessitcomDear Mother...Love Albert.
