It is 36 miles 49 chains (58.9 km) down the main line from London Fenchurch Street via Basildon and it is situated between Southend Central to the west and Thorpe Bay to the east.

[2] Increasing traffic levels saw the need for an intermediate block signal box called Southend East to be provided in order that more trains could run and this was provided in 1896 on the down side east of Southend station.

Southend was a popular seaside resort for Londoners and additional trains were run in the summer and bank holidays.

The opening day was marred by a minor derailment and according to local newspaper reports usage was fairly low.

In early 1933 a fourth platform was supplied on the Down Main to better cater for down stopping trains.

[3] After nationalisation on 1 January 1948 the line became part of British Railways London Midland Region but on 20 February 1949 the whole LTS line was transferred to the Eastern Region, yet despite the organisational changes, the old LTSR still was a distinctive system operated by former LTS and LMS locomotives until electrification.

[9] During 2006, a £425,000 refurbishment programme was completed at the station, providing level access to the London-bound platform, as well as new toilets, baby-changing facilities, a redecorated waiting room with CCTV, and a self-service ticket machine.

[10] The former parcels depot, which handled mainly credit-card post from the nearby Access site, was demolished and replaced with housing, the relevant platforms being infilled and paved over to provide a larger 'up' platform area.