It is 39 miles 40 chains (63.57 km) down the main line from London Fenchurch Street via Basildon; the preceding station is Thorpe Bay.

As a result of this layout, the station has step-free access from the town's high street to all of its platforms.

[2] A connection exists to the Ministry of Defence site nearby at Pig's Bay, to the east over a level crossing on the high street, and extensive carriage sidings exist to the west comprising 31 sidings.

The station has sheltered bicycle storage, a taxicab rank, and a car park.

[4] When London Underground's District line operated a seasonal non-stop excursion train service between 1910 and 1939 through to the Southend area, Shoeburyness was the terminus.