Previously, Milford Junction and Old Junction (Gascoigne Wood) served as an interchange between the Leeds and Selby and the York and North Midland Lines, however when they closed in the early 1900s, Monk Fryston was opened to cover for this loss of interchange.

[1] The closure of Milford Junction station to the north, created a loss for local passengers and some interchanges between trains.

[8] It was serviced by stopping local trains, though diversions from the East Coast Main Line were often seen through the station.

[9] Monk Fryston was closed to passengers on 14 September 1959,[10] and the station was classified as a public delivery siding for goods.

[11] In 1906 when services were operated by the North Eastern Railway (NER), the station had four trains a day each-way between Sheffield and York via Pontefract Baghill.