It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail and is managed by Transport for Wales, who operate all trains serving it.

The rapid expansion of steam locomotion in the 1840s quickly saw the demise of the canals as the railways offered a faster and more economical transport system.

With industry in the South Wales coalfield needing improved transport links the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company (MR&CC) opened the first line between Newport to Pontypool in 1852.

Additional sidings were added to cope with the increasing traffic and the marshalling of freight at Pontypool Road.

It comprised a large island platform with two inset bays (one north to Monmouth, one south to join the TVE).

During the First World War, the Grand Fleet (based at Scapa Flow) had to be supplied with, on average, 100,000 tons of coal each week.

ROF Glascoed munitions and armaments factory was served by the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway which branched from the mainline at Little Mill.

The passenger service to Usk and Monmouth was withdrawn in 1955, the local branch line from Newport to Blaenavon was closed in April 1962 and in June 1964 the passenger service to Neath was withdrawn leaving Pontypool Road, as a main-line station, the only one remaining in the area.

The British Railways totem sign for Pontypool Road has been preserved in the nearby Torfaen Museum.

There is a shelter that serves both sides of the island platform, digital CIS displays, a payphone and a customer help point.

There is no level access, as the only means of reaching the platform is via a staircase from the subway passing beneath the tracks en route to/from the main entrance and car park on Station Road.

[6] A consultation process was also undertaken to look into the option of opening a larger car park on the opposite side of the current one.

The proposal was to utilise vacant scrub land and create a new larger car park that joined the A4042 dual carriageway that runs parallel to the station.

[9] From December 2013 the evening northbound Arriva "Premier" service train began to call at Pontypool for the first time.