The station was opened in 1861. For many years, this station was the terminus for the
Linha Auxiliar (Auxiliary Line), which is now known as the
Belford Roxo Line, before Alfredo Maia station (since demolished) opened in 1905. The
Linha do Norte, which is now the
Saracuruna and
Vila Inhomirim lines, but which at the time continued to
Petrópolis, also had its terminus at São Francisco Xavier before 1909. A train crash in 1935 would lead to rioters targeting the station. ==Notable places nearby==