The Stockton and Hartlepool Railway, which connected the town of West Hartlepool with the Clarence Railway near, was opened for goods on 12 November 1839 and to passengers on 1 December 1839. A station named Hartlepool West was opened on 9 February 1841; this was renamed West Hartlepool in February 1848, and closed on 3 May 1880 when it was replaced by a new West Hartlepool station. This in turn was renamed Hartlepool on 26 April 1967, when West Hartlepool was merged with Hartlepool and following the complete closure of the former Hartlepool Dock & Railway station, previously known as Hartlepool, in 1964. The station has two platforms currently in use: the old northbound platform and a south-facing bay platform. Platform 1, originally used for southbound trains, has been disused for over 20 years. The footbridge linking the platforms was removed in the late 1990s. In August 2013 as part of its track access application extension, Grand Central proposed reinstating platform 1. the station is undergoing extensive refurbishment to include a brand new transport interchange for Hartlepool, and also improvements to the current station facilities. It was also re-signalled in the spring of 2010 as part of the Durham Coast modernisation scheme, with the consequent loss of three manual signal boxes in and around the station.
Facilities
The station has a staffed ticket office, which is open from 07:25 to 18:20 Mondays through Saturdays. A self-service ticket machine is also provided near the station entrance for use when the ticket office is closed and for collecting pre-paid tickets. Ticket barrier gates have been installed for operation from September 2017. Train running information is offered via automatic announcements, digital display screens and timetable posters. There are toilets in the ticket office and a waiting room on the concourse, along with vending machines dispensing snacks and cold drinks. Step-free access is available from the entrance to the platforms.
Services
Northern Trains
From Monday to Saturday Hartlepool is served by hourly trains in each direction. Southbound services run to Middlesbrough via Seaton Carew, Billingham, Stockton and Thornaby, with some journeys extending to Nunthorpe or. Northbound services run to Newcastle, calling at Seaham, Sunderland and Heworth, with some continuing to MetroCentre, Hexham and Carlisle. The frequency of services is also hourly on Sundays between Middlesbrough and Carlisle. Two additional southbound services run to Darlington, running directly from Stockton onto Eaglescliffe, Allens West and Dinsdale. One of these journeys calls additionally at Teesside Airport. A new waiting room was added to the station in 2011.
Grand Central
There are five open access Grand Central services per day in each direction. Northbound trains provide services to Sunderland, running directly without calling at Seaham. Southbound services call at Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk, and York, before terminating at London King's Cross.
Hartlepool Interchange
From November 2009, extensive work was carried out at the station, including the construction of Hartlepool Interchange. The station's refurbishment was completed ahead of the Tall Ships' Races in August 2010 – at a cost of £4 million. Hartlepool Interchange was opened on 11 August 2010, and constructed on the site of the former Hartlepool Bus Station, which was demolished in the 1990s, to allow for the construction of the A179 road bridge over the railway line. It is served by Arriva North East's local bus services, with Stagecoach North East providing a limited service, connecting with some Grand Central services to and from London King's Cross. The bus station has four departure stands, with two further stands located at Church Square and Marina Gateway Bridge. , the stand allocation is:
