[8] The first trains reached Ohakune when the railhead was extended from Rangataua[9] on Tuesday 5 November 1907, when Public Works Department (PWD) and New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) made arrangements for both passenger and goods traffic,[3][10][11][12] At that stage the station was described as 100 ft (30 m) long on a 300 ft (91 m) platform.

[17] On Monday 9 November 1908, a stationmaster was appointed[3] and the first public train from Wellington to Auckland ran,[18] with passengers staying overnight in Ohakune from 8pm to 6am.

[19] In January 1909 the General Manager gave permission for passengers to sleep in the trains, owing to a lack of accommodation in the town.

[3] On 20 November 1908 NZR sent a note to PWD asking for expedition in completing the platform, as it was, "exceedingly inconvenient and dangerous for passengers landing in the dark".

[21] By July 1909 a footwarmer house had been built by PWD for £54.4.4[3] and there was a bookstall,[22] a special station building, with District Engineer's office, luggage, stationmaster's, lobby, and ladies rooms, a lengthened and asphalted platform, cart approach, goods shed, loading bank, cattle and sheep yards, crane, water service, coal accommodation, engine turntable, engine shed, stationmaster's house and urinal.

[3] Railway houses were built in 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1912, 1914 and 1965 and a hostel for female refreshment room staff on Tyne Road in 1940.