The station was built by the British and designed by J. M. Wilson, a Scot who had been an assistant to Lutyens in New Delhi and who subsequently set up a practice of his own in Baghdad.

Historically passengers from Bagdhad were able to reach Jerusalem as well as London onboard luxury trains.

[1]The station offered telegraph services, it had also a bank, a post office, a saloon, shopping areas and a restaurant.

[citation needed] After the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, thieves snatched the station's furniture, lighting fixtures and even bathroom plumbing.

Two new seven-passenger elevators, new bathrooms and a hotel with 13 rooms were added along with a new fire alarm and sprinkler system[3][page needed]