It is on the East Coastway Line, 61 miles 39 chains (99.0 km) from London Bridge, and train services are provided by Southern.

The station was built at Polegate to serve the nearby towns of Hailsham and South Bourne, the latter now part of Eastbourne.

[1] The station then also had a one road engine shed and small freight yard complete with granary and weighing machine.

The trackbed of the branch to Heathfield is now a cycle path – Cuckoo Trail – beginning at the north end of the town.

Polegate 'A' signal box was situated at the western end of the station and controlled the junction for the Cuckoo Line to Hailsham and Eridge and the goods yard.

Polegate 'B' signal box, situated at the eastern end of the station controlled the junction for Eastbourne and Hastings based services.