The first train was able to cross the Waingawa River in late July and due to a donation of 2 acres of land by Donald and Frances Nicolson [2] a shelter was able to be erected at Clareville by the end of August.

The Taratahi Dairy Company complained in April 1925 that it, and others, had experienced difficulty in delivering cans of cream to the station.

[6] As was typically the case for flag stations, trains only stopped to pick up or set down passengers and wagons if required to do so.

[8] From 1936 when the NZR RM class Wairarapa-type railcars were introduced passengers from Clareville had a much faster service to points both north and south.

The Wairarapa Mail passenger trains continued to run but in 1944 were reduced from their Monday – Saturday timetable to a thrice weekly service due to a severe coal shortage.

The 1959 railcar timetable lists Clareville as a "stops if required" station for both northbound and southbound services.

A narrow escape from a serious accident occurred in 1898 when a buggy containing two ladies was drawn beside the line waiting for the Napier-Wellington express.