It is currently served by Amtrak, the United States' national passenger rail service, and is a stop on the Crescent line.

The station was built in 1899 from plans drawn by the noted Southern Railway architect, Frank Pierce Milburn.

In 1922, the building was almost destroyed by fire that broke out during a raging snowstorm, which prevented firefighting teams from reaching it.

For years it was closed and Amtrak passengers had to walk through a tunnel and wait for trains on an open platform between the tracks.

In addition to serving Amtrak passengers, part of the station is now used as a campus of the Danville Science Center.