The station is on the Cambrian Coast Railway with passenger services to Pwllheli, Harlech, Barmouth, Machynlleth, Shrewsbury and Birmingham.

The present station was opened by the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway as Portmadoc on 12 September 1867, and renamed Porthmadog on 5 May 1975.

[2] The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (WHHR) run a station known as Porthmadog, which opened on 2 August 1980.

[3] Additionally there were two interim stations either side of, what is now, the Network Rail / WH Cae Pawb crossing.

[2] In 2014, main line services were suspended due to structural problems with the Pont Briwet viaduct near Llandecwyn.