It is one of the two major nodes for local and regional public transportation in the northern part of Zürich, the other being the railway station at Zurich Airport.

Serving approximately 85,000 daily rail passengers, Zürich Oerlikon is the seventh busiest railway station in Switzerland.

In 1877, the Schweizerische Nationalbahn (SNB) opened the Furttal railway line from Wettingen to Effretikon, via Seebach and Opfikon stations.

This line was conceived as a freight bypass for Zürich and whilst it passed close to Oerlikon station, it did not serve it.

The additional platforms and tracks were constructed on the north-western side of the station, partially on land occupied by the former office building of Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon, dating from the late 19th century and now a restaurant complex known as Gleis 9.

The remaining platform tracks run together for further, but eventually divide to serve the routes to Seebach, Glattbrugg, Opfikon and Zurich Airport stations respectively.

[10][11] The renovation of the station underpasses, completed in 2016, added more than 20 store fronts to the Bahnhof Oerlikon complex mostly below ground level.

[18] A stop complex on the south-eastern side of the station and known as Bahnhof Oerlikon is served by tram route 11, and buses 61, 62, 94, 768, 781 and 787.

A second stop complex to the north-east of the station and known as Bahnhof Oerlikon Ost is served by tram routes 10 and 14, and buses 75, 768, 781 and 787.

Between them these connect the station to much of the city of Zürich and to the Glatt Valley between Oerlikon and Zurich Airport.