Trains run Westbound to the Bank in the City of London and Eastbound to Woolwich Arsenal, passing through London City Airport station.

The station is in the London Borough of Newham and is located in Travelcard Zone 3.

Prior to December 2005, Docklands Light Railway trains would arrive at Canning Town and would only be able to continue in a South-Easterly direction towards Royal Victoria.

The station is close to the site of Lyle Park and was set up to serve Britannia Village and the proposed new development at Peruvian Wharf.

A future Thames Wharf station between this station and Canning Town is safeguarded and considered after the Thames Wharf development is given the go-ahead and the Silvertown Tunnel is completed.