The railway line was built in 1835 for transport of coal from Coalpit Heath to industry in the centre of Bristol.

The station, originally named Fish Ponds, was opened in March 1866, and was renamed Stapleton on 1 April 1866.

At Mangotsfield the lines split, and passengers could continue onto Gloucester past Parkfield Colliery and Coalpit Heath, and or through Warmley, Oldland Common and Bitton when the Mangotsfield and Bath Branch Line was opened in 1869.

Stopping passenger services on the Bristol to Gloucester line ceased on 4 January 1965; the station closed to goods traffic on 31 December 1965.

The line through the station was due to close on 3 January 1970, but a landslip at nearby Staple Hill led to its closure a week early.