[2][3] Two of the last sections, from Yeovil Pen Mill to Weymouth and a connecting curve from that line to the Dorchester station of the London and South Western Railway (LSWR), were opened on 20 January 1857.

[8] The original station buildings were designed by T. H. Bertram and constructed in timber with a glazed overall roof across the tracks; this was removed after WW2.

However traffic soon declined and the station was progressively rationalised after the end of steam-hauled operations in 1967 with the goods yard closing in 1972 and the signal box and most of the remaining sidings being taken out of use in 1987.

[9] The station, which was rebuilt in Network SouthEast livery, was provided with enhanced ticket office facilities, a travel centre, Red Star Parcels point and an improved car park.

Its use had been suggested as part of the transport infrastructure for the 2012 Olympic sailing events to take place on the Isle of Portland, though since it is accessed via the Weymouth Harbour Tramway, which ran along public streets, this posed difficulties.