The station was opened by the South Wales Railway on 2 January 1854[1] as part of their route from Cardiff to Haverfordwest and to Neyland two years later.

A branch line to Milford Haven followed in 1863 and the Pembroke and Tenby Railway (P&T) arrived from Tenby in 1866; their route was built as standard gauge, rather than the SWR's broad gauge, and so initially the P&T had to terminate at its own station next to the main line one, which by now was owned by the Great Western Railway.

Summer Saturday Class 800 services between London Paddington and Pembroke Dock also serve Whitland.

Transport for Wales Rail boat trains to and from Fishguard Harbour serve the station.

These connect with the Stena Line ferry to Rosslare Europort in Ireland with a daily morning and evening service in both directions.

Train running information is provided by timetable posters, digital display screens and a customer help point on each side.