Dating from around 1835, Hexham station is one of the oldest purpose-built railway stations in the world and is a grade II listed building. The Newcastle and Carlisle Railway was formed in 1829, and was opened in stages. The first section of that line to open for passenger trains was between and Hexham, which was formally opened on 3 March 1835, with normal services beginning either the next day, or on 9 March 1835. The line was extended from Hexham to on 28 June 1836. After the N&CR had been absorbed by the North Eastern Railway, Hexham became a junction station with the opening of the first section of the Border Counties Railway, between Hexham and on 5 April 1858. The first section of a second branch, the Hexham and Allendale Railway was opened in August 1867 - the H&AR, initially promoted to serve lead mines, opened for passengers on 1 March 1869. On the main line, the next station to the west of Hexham was, which closed in 1967. The station has diminished in size and importance since the closure of the Allendale branch and the Border Counties Railway, both of which met the Tyne Valley line west of Hexham station. The bay platform used by both branch lines was located on the southern side and faced west; it was taken out of use in the early 1970s and the track lifted. The track layout has also been rationalised, with just a running loop and three sidings retained at the east end of the station along with the distinctive elevated signal box - this was built in 1896, is also grade-II listed and one of only two such structures left on the line. In 2013 and 2014 a major Network Rail managed redevelopment scheme was undertaken. The goods yard on the south east side became a retail park. The Victorian railway stables were relocated to Beamish Museum. Both of the Victorian goods shed buildings are to be re-used. On the north side a new entrance and car park were created allowing step-free access to that platform. The floral displays have won several awards from the Britain in Bloom scheme. Since the mid 2000s the station has accommodated office space for the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership who opened a kiosk in 2011.
Facilities
The station is staffed on a part-time basis, with the ticket office on platform 2 open on weekdays from 07:1517:30 and 08:1514:15 on Saturdays. There are now four ticket machines at the station - two on each platform. There are waiting rooms on both platforms along with toilets, vending machines, a retail outlet, taxi office and refreshment facilities on platform 2. Step-free access is available to both platforms. There is a bus stop and a taxi rank outside the station. The station has two waiting rooms. The waiting room on platform 2 has a fireplace made of black marble, which includes many fossilised orthoceras cephalopods, dated to approximately 400 million years old.
Services
The station has a 2tph Northern service on weekdays westwards to Carlisle, though the through trains beyond towards Glasgow Central have now ceased. There are three trains per hour to Newcastle - two of which run through from Carlisle and serve only and, whilst the other starts at Hexham and calls at the intermediate stations. Many of the latter continue on via the Durham Coast Line to and, whilst others run to. On Sundays an hourly service operates between Carlisle and Newcastle. In January 2016, a landslip between Corbridge and Riding Mill led to the temporary suspension of services between Hexham and Prudhoe whilst repairs to the track and adjacent cutting walls were carried out. Trains to/from Carlisle terminated and reversed at Hexham, whilst a replacement bus service ran to Prudhoe, until the work was completed. The line reopened to traffic on 8 February 2016, following the removal of over 35,000 tonnes of earth from the site.
