The original Gemas station was constructed sometime in 1922 as a hub for trains from Penang, Seremban, and Kuala Lumpur.

Its function as a junction between the West Coast railway line up to Padang Besar and East Coast railway line up to Tumpat made it very popular to passengers as trains will stop for a certain long period to transfer goods and passengers between both routes, before continuing their journey.

[1] However, passengers to Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves or Tanjung Malim are required to switch trains at Seremban then.

Following a rescheduling exercise in June 2016 the shuttle service was cut short and ended at Pulau Sebang/Tampin, removing Gemas and Batang Melaka from the line.

The station remains the southernmost terminus of the service until the electrification and double tracking project of the Johor part of the railway is done.