The station, situated 17 miles 51 chains (28 km) north-west of Carlisle, serves the town of Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

Shortly after leaving the station, heading west towards Dumfries, the line crosses a viaduct over the River Annan and adjoining flood plains.

Also, situated just to the west of the station, is a disused junction and former alignment of a line which used to head south to the Cochran's Boiler Plant at Newbie.

However, the second track was reinstated by Network Rail in 2008,[2][3][4] to assist in managing the increased traffic levels, mainly consisting of train loads of imported coal from Hunterston Terminal to power stations in the East Midlands and West Yorkshire.

Newbie Junction Halt was located to the west of the Annan Viaduct, and briefly (between 1898–1904) served a nearby boiler factory, as well as a brick and tile works.