Originally the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway's operation was confined to an adjacent but separate terminus, but it was closed in 1939 when all services were diverted to the main line station.

Haughley closed with effect from 2 January 1967 as part of the Beeching Axe and most of the station building was demolished as well as the three platforms and the two signalboxes, the turntable filled in and the sidings removed.

In 1904 the Mid Suffolk Light Railway (MSLR) opened as an independently run line to Laxfield.

Opening to light goods (the line served a predominantly agricultural area) it was felt there was enough potential for passenger traffic, which commenced on 29 September 1908.

[8] In 1929 the Travelling Post Office service that had terminated at Ipswich was extended to Norwich with a stop at Haughley.

[12] Haughley closed with effect from 2 January 1967 as part of the Beeching Axe and most of the station building was demolished as well as the three platforms.

On the evening of 13 March 1971, D1562 (a Class 47 locomotive with an experimentally uprated power plant) hauled the 19:30 Liverpool Street to Norwich train.

The force of the explosion blew the engine room door off its hinges, striking driver Harry Hendry and breaking his arm.

Some photographs of the aftermath can be found here:[14] The line to Norwich was electrified by British Rail in 1985 with electric services commencing the following year.

It is possible that, like Finningham to the north, the cash-strapped Eastern Union Railway took the view in 1849 that better facilities would follow should the station prove popular as the original structure (designed by Frederick Barnes who designed a number of the local railway stations) was replaced by the GER between 1864 and 1866.

Initially a goods shed and 42-foot diameter turntable were provided at Haughley, located on the down side.