The station was opened by the Mid-Hants (Alton Lines) Railway (MHR) on 2 October 1865.

[1][4] It is an intermediate station on the 10-mile (16 km), four-station route which runs from Alton to New Alresford, also in Hampshire.

The main locomotive shed and workshops for the Mid Hants Railway are just to the east of Ropley station.

This was recovered from the closed station at North Tawton in Devon in August 1983, restored and installed by volunteers.

[7] In 2012–13, a footbridge, originally at King's Cross station in London, was dismantled to connect instead the raised picnic area, orchard and children's play areas to the buildings at Ropley station taking in for part of its length the maintenance shed, where passengers can walk over and view the works below.