Railroad service in Haywards (later Hayward) began with the San Francisco and Alameda Railroad in August 1865.
The terminal station was located at Watkins Street and D Street in downtown Haywards.
It was destroyed in the 1868 Hayward earthquake, which bankrupted the railroad.
The line was taken over in 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad (CP).
The CP built its own line (part of the First Transcontinental Railroad) and station slightly to the west, and abandoned the original line south of San Leandro in 1873.

Transcontinental service was shifted from the CP to a northern route on the California Pacific Railroad in 1879.
The Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) leased the CP in 1885 and constructed a two-story wood station of standard design at Hayward.
Long-distance service to the south was switched to the Coast Line around 1909, but local passenger service to Hayward continued until 1941.
Freight service continued on the line, and the station remained intact until it was destroyed by a 1982 fire.

Amtrak Capitols (later Capitol Corridor) service between Sacramento and San Jose began in 1991; it ran through Hayward without stopping.
After the success of other infill stations on the line, a station at Hayward was opened on May 29, 1997.
A station shelter was constructed in the Arts and Crafts style.
A siding track with a rarely-used second platform was added around 2006.

A 2016-released Vision Plan called for Capitol Corridor trains to be rerouted over the Coast Subdivision, which is used by less freight service.
Hayward station would be closed under that plan.
Railroad service in Haywards (later Hayward) began with the San Francisco and Alameda Railroad in August 1865. The terminal station was located at Watkins Street and D Street in downtown Haywards. It was destroyed in the 1868 Hayward earthquake, which bankrupted the railroad. The line was taken over in 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad (CP). The CP built its own line (part of the First Transcontinental Railroad) and station slightly to the west, and abandoned the original line south of San Leandro in 1873.
Transcontinental service was shifted from the CP to a northern route on the California Pacific Railroad in 1879. The Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) leased the CP in 1885 and constructed a two-story wood station of standard design at Hayward. Long-distance service to the south was switched to the Coast Line around 1909, but local passenger service to Hayward continued until 1941. Freight service continued on the line, and the station remained intact until it was destroyed by a 1982 fire.
Amtrak Capitols (later Capitol Corridor) service between Sacramento and San Jose began in 1991; it ran through Hayward without stopping. After the success of other infill stations on the line, a station at Hayward was opened on May 29, 1997. A station shelter was constructed in the Arts and Crafts style. A siding track with a rarely-used second platform was added around 2006.
A 2016-released Vision Plan called for Capitol Corridor trains to be rerouted over the Coast Subdivision, which is used by less freight service. Hayward station would be closed under that plan.
Hayward station (Amtrak)