Upon its opening on 25 June 1877, it was the largest railway station in the world, possessing 13 platforms along with various amenities, including a dedicated hotel (now The Principal York).

The station took extensive damage from German bombers during the Second World War, resulting in both deaths and injuries amongst the staff.

Journey times between York and other destinations along the ECML were slashed following the introduction of British Rail Class 55 Deltic locomotives and InterCity 125 high speed trains.

During the late 1980s, extensive changes were made to the signalling and track layout through and around the station as a part of the wider electrification of the ECML.

Further improvements to the station have continued following the privatisation of British Rail, including new control facilities, additional retail units, redesigned approaches and track layout changes.

[6] Furthermore, as the NER's dominance of rail traffic in the region expanded through further mergers, several directors desired an expansive and elaborate facility to serve York, where the company was headquartered.

[7][8] This new station was designed by the North Eastern Railway architects Thomas Prosser and William Peachey and built by Lucas Brothers.

[9] A prominent feature was the large curved train shed, which had been viewed as one of the more impressive monuments of the railway age.

[15] On the same night, two railway workers were killed, one being station foreman William Milner, who died after returning to his burning office to collect his first aid kit; he was posthumously awarded the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct.

[1] Journey times between York and other destinations along the ECML were slashed following the introduction of the British Rail Class 55 locomotive in 1961 and the Intercity 125 high speed train during 1976.

[8][18] The track layout through and around the station was remodelled again in 1988 as part of the resignalling scheme that was carried out prior to the electrification of the ECML shortly afterwards by British Rail.

[22][23] Between 2006 and 2007, the approaches to the station were reorganised to improve facilities for bus, taxi and car users as well as pedestrians and cyclists.

New automated ticket gates (similar to those in Leeds) were planned, but the City of York Council wished to avoid spoiling the historic nature of the station.

[25][26] Further improvements to the station have been made under LNER's stewardship, including a new lounge for first class passengers, additional retail units, and new public toilets.

During Christmas 2020, major track replacement occurred, with Network Rail releasing time lapse footage of the works.

Queen Street Bridge, built to cross the lines into the old York station within the city walls, will be demolished in April 2024.

[39] Located adjacent to the station, York Central is one of the largest city centre brownfield regeneration sites in the UK.

Class 68 diesel locomotives and pull-pull Mark 5A coaches were used on some services (mainly to /from Scarborough) until the winter 2023 timetable change, but these have now been phased out.