Barry is also the junction at the start of the Vale of Glamorgan Line which serves Rhoose and Llantwit Major and terminates at Bridgend.

Passenger services are operated by Transport For Wales as part of the Valley Lines network.

The first passenger services ran between Cogan and Barry Docks starting on 20 December 1888 along the line known as the Cogan branch; the main line ran from Cadoxton South Junction to Trehafod in the Rhondda.

However, the line was extended to Barry Island on 3 August 1896 and a good proportion of the passenger trains terminated there.

The station has a staffed ticket office on platform 1, which is open six days per week from early morning until mid-afternoon.

A waiting room is available in the main building when the station is staffed, with a shelter on the island platform.

Train running information is offered via CIS displays, automated announcements, a help point on platform 1 and timetable posters.

[2] To alleviate the problem of disabled persons or persons with heavy luggage having to use the stations in this way, by October 2019 it was planned to provide a new footbridge with combined lifts at Barry station by 2020 and at Cadoxton such a provision was almost complete by October 2019, where only a subway had been the means of crossing between platforms after June 1964 due to a foot crossing previously being provided but removed for safety reasons.