When Østfold Line opened in 1879 it followed a more westerly right-of-way through Holm. The line passed over Ljadalen on the Ljan Viaduct. The ground conditions were poor through Holm and the Norwegian State Railways therefore decided to build a new rote via Hauketo. The new route resulted in the opening of a station. Locals proposed that the station take the name Holm, which the area was known as at the time. NSB rejected this, stating that there was already a Holm Station on the Vestfold Line. They proposed instead that the name Lia could be used, after the former croft at the site. In the end they settled for both—Holmlia. The line past the station received double track on 15 December 1936, followed by electrification on 18 January 1937.