It is 40 miles 27 chains (64.92 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street and is situated between North Fambridge to the west and Burnham-on-Crouch to the east.

The single platform, north of the running line, has an operational length for eight-coach trains.

The line and station were opened on 1 June 1889 for goods and on 1 October 1889 for passenger services by the Great Eastern Railway.

When sectorisation was introduced, Althorne was managed by Network SouthEast until the privatisation of British Railways.

All services at Althorne are operated by Greater Anglia, using Class 720 electric multiple units.