There were several other station's then as I understand it, Kemp Town, one Near Elm Grove Primary. That route made sense at the time. They were prepared to make a commitment to public transport
The kemp town station was the end of a line that was built in a fit of business shithousery rather than as a viable commercial operation. There were plans from another railway company to run its own line from London to Brighton. The new route effectively encircled the town making the idea impossible.