The station was built in the 1860s to cater to employees at Southern Railway's locomotive, carriage, wagon, and coach-building workshops.

[2] The lines at the station were electrified on 29 November 1979, with the electrification of the Chennai Central–Tiruvallur section.

This workshop was established in the year 1856 to serve the erstwhile Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Company.

[7] In 2013, the station was being revamped at a cost of ₹ 12 million, with the work being expected to be completed in 6 months.

There is a new subway coming up in the east end of the station to ease the commuters.

[2] Exclusive two-wheeler and car-parking facility have also been planned on 6,000 sq m. More water taps and coolers, seating arrangement, refreshment outlets and better illumination are part of the renovation.

[2] Since April 2014, a new help desk for enquiries regarding arrival and departure of trains and filing cases against thefts, the first of its kind in a suburban railway station in the city, started functioning at the station.

The existing ticket booking office at Perambur railway station is not well equipped.

Residents of North Chennai area and people from Tiruvallur district are using this railway station a lot to make reservations.