The station was originally named Coatbridge and opened in 1842. It was renamed Coatbridge Central in 1953 after the 1826 Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway station named Coatbridge Central closed in 1951. It is on what was originally the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway, which later became the Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway.
The station's original name was Coatbridge, it opened in 1842. In 1953, it was renamed Coatbridge Central after a previous station named Coatbridge Central closed in 1951. The current location is on the former Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway, which later became the Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway.