The station, situated 7 miles 64 chains (12.6 km) east of Middlesbrough, serves the seaside town of Redcar.

An important station on the Tees Valley Line, Redcar Central is the terminating station for the majority of Transpennine Express Services to Northallerton, York, Leeds, and beyond to Manchester Airport. Additionally 3 Transpennie Express services a day provide a service to/from Saltburn only.

Due to the closure of the footbridge at South Bank this station is currently ommitted for trains running East Bound (i.e towards Saltburn) and a bus replacement service running every hour runs between Middlesbrough - South Bank - Redcar Central.