The station is the southern terminus of the Caterham Line, which branches from the London to Brighton main line at Purley. It lies 32 km (20 mi) by rail from Charing Cross: the London headquarters of the former South Eastern Railway Company which took the branch over in 1859, three years after its completion.
Today the station and all trains serving it are operated by the Southern train operating company. It has a single island platform with a one-storey ticket office dating from just before the turn of the 20th century. There is a carriage siding on the western (Up) side of the station.