Construction began in 1825 and it opened in 1829; the tram rails were laid on stone sleepers.

Despite the conversion to a railway, trains on the Porthcawl branch continued to be drawn by horses until 1868, when the system was altered again to standard gauge.

[2] By the early 20th century, Porthcawl grew in importance as a destination for holiday traffic; in 1916, the GWR rebuilt the station on a new site.

[3] The original station's turntable was not replaced, but remained derelict on-site for many years.

[4] Its closure came in 1963, despite the fact that the branch was still well-used; the move was very unpopular with local businesses and residents alike.