By 1928, the track had, extended west in phases, had linked up with the Miyagi Line (宮地線) reaching eastwards from Kumamoto.

On 2 December 1928, the entire track from Kumamoto through Naka-Handa to Ōita was designated as the Hōhi Main Line.

With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR), the successor of JGR, on 1 April 1987, Naka-Handa came under the control of JR Kyushu.

[6] JR Kyushu had planned to convert Naka-Handa (with several other stations in Ōita City) into an unstaffed, remotely-managed "Smart Support Station" by 17 March 2018 but after opposition from users, this was postponed, pending works to improve accessibility.

[9] Media related to Naka-Handa Station at Wikimedia Commons This Oita Prefecture railroad station-related article is a stub.