It is 27 miles 13 chains (43.7 km) down the line from London Fenchurch Street via Rainham and it is situated between East Tilbury and Pitsea.

Nearby DP World London Gateway, while principally a deep-water port, is also a rail cargo terminus.

[1][2] The station was opened on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway in September 1854 with the name Horndon.

Trains from London terminated at Stanford-le-Hope until the next section of railway to the east opened a year later.

[3] The original station building and up platform were constructed to the north of the London Road level crossing.