The line and station were opened on 1 June 1889 for goods and on 1 October 1889 for passenger services by the Great Eastern Railway. The facilities included a single platform with station buildings, a goods yard and a 30-lever signal box south of the station.[1] Two miles east of Althorne, Creeksea sidings (facing points in the down direction) received traffic to and from the Creeksea ferry from 1889 to 1947.[1]
The typical off-peak service is one train every 40 minutes in each direction between Wickford and Southminster. During peak hours, some services continue beyond Wickford to and from Shenfield and London Liverpool Street. On Sundays, the service is reduced to hourly in each direction.[2]