This site was 0.5 miles (0.80 km) from, and 70 feet (21 m) above the sea shore, and had involved considerable excavation work to create a reasonable gradient from Patcham Tunnel.

[3] The passenger station was a three-storey building in an Italianate style, designed by David Mocatta in 1839–40 which incorporated the head office of the railway company.

[6] The platform accommodation was built by John Urpeth Rastrick and consisted of four pitched roofs each 250 ft long (76 m).

[8][9] The station site was extended for the opening of the Brighton Lewes and Hastings Railway on 8 June 1846[10] (which had been purchased by the L&BR in 1845).

[11] Further extensions to the station occurred during the mid-19th century but only a limited number of additional platforms could be added because of the awkward sloping site.

The station has an impressive large double-spanned curved glass and iron roof covering all of the platforms, which was substantially renovated in 1999 and 2000.

The cab run remains in situ but has been sealed at the station end, with the sloped entrance infilled with concrete and used as a storage area.

The tunnel entrance was filled in after new tracks were laid into the goods yard, but a portion of it was converted into offices during World War II, and these were in use until the early 21st century.

[22] During 1860–1861 John Chester Craven, the locomotive superintendent of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) began the removal of a large chalk hill to the north of the station, which had been dumped during the excavation of the main line.

Until December 2007, South West Trains operated regular services to Reading and Paignton via Worthing and Chichester.

After the game, fans leave the station via the emergency gates, and a queuing system is in operation for West Coastway Line services departing from platforms 1 and 2.

The Lewes Bonfire night, usually on 5 November, attracts large numbers of people, many travelling through Brighton station.

[38] In 2012 £4.5 million was secured from the Department for Transport's Station Commercial Project Facility for renovation of the concourse.

Changes included an increased number of ticket barriers, improved layout, more seating and retail outlets and the removal of the previous WH Smiths structure.

[42] On 4 August 1909, a train hauled by Terrier No.83 Earlswood collided with the buffers at Brighton, due to the driver's error.

This caused the momentum of the engine to derail and crash through a brick wall into the street, injuring one passer-by.