It was built by the Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway in 1848.

The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by East Midlands Railway.

All services at Great Coates are operated by East Midlands Railway using Class 170 DMUs.

[citation needed] The typical off-peak service is one train every two hours in each direction between Cleethorpes and Barton-on-Humber.

[1] On Sundays, the station is served by four trains per day in each direction during the summer months only.