Jacana station opened on 15 February 1959, a number of years before the Housing Commission started construction of its nearby Jacana estate.^[5] The station, like the suburb itself, appears to get its name from a nearby street in neighbouring Broadmeadows.^[5]

The railway past the site of Jacana originally opened in 1872, as part of the North East line to School House Lane.^[4] In July 1958, construction of the station began,^[6] with the slewing of the down line occurring on 13 September of that year^[7] to make room for the island platform, as well as the flyover for the standard gauge line, which was under construction at the same time.^[8]

On 17 December 1972, the station was damaged by fire.^[9] Three days later, on 20 December, 10 wagons on a Sydney-bound freight train on the standard gauge line derailed immediately west of the station.^[9] The pedestrian overpass at the station was damaged during the derailment, but was repaired by 24 December.^[10] Much of the debris resulting from the derailment was also cleared by that date.^[10]

In 1975, the current overpass on Pascoe Vale Road, to the west of the station, was provided, replacing an earlier overpass.^[11]

On 14 November 1996, two Comeng train sets collided between Broadmeadows and Jacana, injuring 13 people.^[12][13][14] It occurred after a city-bound train collided with a stationary Broadmeadows-bound train.^[12][13] Two carriages derailed in the collision.^[12][13]

Jacana has one island platform with two faces. It is served by Craigieburn line trains.^[15]

Platform 1:

•  Craigieburn line  all stations services to Flinders Street

Platform 2:

•  Craigieburn line  all stations services to Craigieburn

• Melway map at street-directory.com.au