The first station building was added in 1844.The Riesa–Chemnitz railway, which branched off to the south from the existing line, was opened in August 1847.

From 1889 to 1924, the station forecourt was the starting point of a metre-gauge horse-drawn tram that ran to the Rathausplatz (town hall square).

On 8 March 1995, this plan was discarded and an upgrade of the Riesa rail node (with speeds to be reduced as low as 100 km/h) was pursued instead.

[4] The development of the station forms part of the third stage of German Unity Transport Project (Verkehrsprojektes Deutsche Einheit) no.

The passenger station is located between the freight yard to the west and the bridge over the Elbe to the east.