Although initially named 'Newport Road', the station was by the end of 1854 called 'Pontypool Road' (the addition of Road within the station name is common in railway parlance when the station is situated away from the centre of the town served).
In September 1874 the Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway (PC&NR) opened to goods traffic from Pontypool South Junction to Maindee Junction in Newport.