In 1857, the Herne Bay and Faversham Railway was granted approval to construct a 10 miles 48 chains (17.06 km) long railway line from Faversham to Herne Bay via Whitstable, despite severe opposition from the South Eastern Railway.

[2] It was arranged that the London, Chatham and Dover Railway would work the line.

By 1861, permission had been granted to extend to Ramsgate, and a further change of name to the Kent Coast Railway had taken place.

The line between Herne Bay and Ramsgate opened on 5 October 1863.

[4] Margate East was one of four stations in the Isle of Thanet closed on 2 July 1926 by the Southern Railway's remodelling scheme.