Hartford station was built by the Grand Junction Railway (GJR)[1]: 55  and opened in September 1837.

The LMSR was nationalised within British Railways on 1 January 1948 and the station and its train services were thereafter operated by the London Midland Region of BR.

The station is staffed; the ticket office is open from start of services until late afternoon during the week and on Saturdays, but limited on a Sunday.

Greenbank railway station is about 1 mile (1.6 km) away, though nearer to Northwich, on the Mid-Cheshire Line from Chester to Manchester Piccadilly.

The station underwent an upgrade in spring 2011; it included new voice announcements, live arrivals and departure boards, and new electronic systems.