The station opened on 28 October 1873, as the temporary terminus of the line from Benalla, before it was extended to Wodonga on 21 November 1873. A goods shed is located across from the main platform, but has no siding, with the goods shed office itself demolished in 1978. Dock platforms were also once located at both ends of the station. Wangaratta was once the junction for the Whitfieldnarrow gauge railway. Footbridges are located at both the south end of the platform and over the northern end of the yard. The main platform and station building is located to the east of the standard gauge "West" line. The original standard gauge line runs in a concrete walled cutting, located between the station and adjoining street, with a number of bridges crossing this cutting to provide station access. The platform on the standard gauge "East" line is located in the cutting at the Melbourne end of the station. Alumatta Loop is currently located to the south of the station on the standard gauge line. Initial facilities included a goods shed and a temporary station building, with a brick station building, identical to that at Benalla, erected in 1874, with a two storied brick tower added to the Melbourne end in 1897. The large signal box was provided in 1887, and then extended in 1908, when the goods yard was enlarged, and the current goods shed provided. A small locomotive depot was provided in 1882, with a dual gauge long turntable provided in 1898. The narrow gauge Whitfield line opened in 1899, branching off from the main line at the southern end of the station. The line closed in 1953. When the standard gauge line was constructed through the station in 1962, extensive works were required to thread it through the narrow railway reserve. The locomotive depot and turntable were relocated from the east side of the line to the west side of the line, and new grade separations were provided at Rowan Street, to the north, and Roy Street, to the south. During 1984, the passenger facilities in the main station building were refurbished. The upgraded facilities re-opened on 9 November of the same year. During June/July 1997, the signal box at Wangaratta was abolished. Signalling and interlocked points were also abolished during this time. During the 2011 conversion of the broad gauge line to standard gauge, all sidings were disconnected. The station now has no loop or non-platform tracks, and essentially is now only a "through" station. Former stations Winton and Glenrowan were located between Wangaratta and Benalla, while former station Bowser was located between Wangaratta and Springhurst.
Platforms & services
Wangaratta has two platforms. But only one is in use due to the Inland Rail project with upgrade works to start work late 2021. It is serviced by V/LineAlbury line services and NSW TrainLinkXPTSydney to Melbourne services. ;Platform 1:
NSW TrainLink Southern: XPT services to Southern Cross and services to Sydney Central
;Platform 2: No passenger service running on Platform 2 until further notice:- It has been used on the occasion if Works are going ahead on the main platform
