Goods ran between Ongarue and Taumarunui from 2 February 1903, with the line opening on Friday 29 May 1903 and, on Tuesday 1 December 1903, the 28 mi 24 ch (45.5 km) line between Poro-O-Tarao and Taumarunui was transferred from the Public Works Department to New Zealand Railways.

[5] The prime minister, Sir Joseph Ward, addressed a crowd of several hundred at Taumarunui on Saturday 8 August 1908, when the first Wellington to Auckland train paused at the station.

[6] When regular through trains started on Monday 9 November 1908, southbound passengers stayed overnight at Taumarunui.

As well as complaints about the quality and quantity of rooms, there was also praise for Taumarunui boarding houses and hotels.

[4] The original station was replaced by a two-storey building, officially opened by Prime Minister Robert Muldoon on 10 July 1977.

[4] The station closed on 25 June 2012, when the passenger stop was dropped from the Northern Explorer's schedule, except for pre-booked groups of 10+.