The current station opened in 1887, replacing the original station which opened in 1847 and was sited east of what is now only a pedestrian crossing. This station had two bay platforms which served the branch line to Swanage from 1885 until 1972, when the branch closed. The branch line to Swanage is now the preserved Swanage Railway, a steam locomotive operated heritage railway that currently operates between Swanage and a Park and Ride site at Norden just north of Corfe Castle. The rail connection between the Swanage Railway and the Network Rail tracks at Worgret Junction has been restored, restoring a connection with the National Rail network. On Summer Saturdays trains run through from a number of South Western Railway stations, including Waterloo and Salisbury through Wareham to Corfe Castle to link with Swanage Railway services.
Services
Wareham station is served by two South Western Railway services an hour from London Waterloo to Weymouth, usually a Class 444 express Desiro unit or Class 450 outer suburban Desiro unit. Prior to 9 December 2007 it was the terminus for an hourly local service from Brockenhurst, but this has now been partially replaced by the additional Weymouth service. Until 1967, trains through the station were normally steam hauled. Class 205 diesel electric multiple units were used during the final years of British Rail operation on the Swanage branch. Between 1967 and 1988, passenger services on the London-Weymouth line were normally provided by Class 33/1diesel locomotives with Class 438 coaching stock. The line was electrified in 1988, using the standard British Rail Southern Region direct current third rail at 750 volts. After electrification, Class 442 electric multiple units were initially used, but these were replaced by new Class 444 electric multiple units in 2007.
Heritage
Track is operationally through from Worgret Junction to the Swanage Railway, although the normal steam service on the line still runs from Swanage and terminates at Norden station near Corfe Castle. The line's regular service has now been extended to terminate at Wareham, allowing interchange with the main line. This was achieved on 13 June 2017 when a four-coach diesel-hauled trial service began running to Wareham. This was the first train to work between the two towns since the Swanage branch closed in 1972.
