It is 41 miles 44 chains (66.9 km) down the line from London Victoria and is situated between Rainham and Sittingbourne.

[2] The station is 41 miles 42 chains (66.8 km) from London Victoria (measured via Herne Hill).

Most of the line between Swanley and Dover has two tracks, but there are four tracks from a point about half a mile east of Rainham to 41 miles 52 chains (67.0 km), at the eastern end of Newington station.

At Newington, there are two platforms, one on each of the "loop" lines; these are capable of accepting 12 car trains.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:[4] Additional services including trains to and from London Bridge and London Cannon Street call at the station in the peak hours.