It was opened by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway on 1 April 1848, on their line between Wakefield Kirkgate and Goole via Knottingley.

The station is unmanned and has only basic amenities – no permanent buildings remain other than standard glass and metal shelters on each platform.

There is a single customer help point on platform 1 (eastbound) and timetable posters on both sides to provide train running information.

The sparse timetable continues to operate mainly to meet Northern's franchise obligations and to avoid the need for the Knottingley to Goole line to be put through the formal closure process.

Media related to Whitley Bridge railway station at Wikimedia Commons