Barassie was a staffed station until the line was electrified in 1986, but the main buildings have since been demolished and there are now only waiting shelters in use on each platform.

South of the station, there are a number of active engineers sidings that occupy the alignment of the original 1839 GPK&AR route southwards.

As first built, this bypassed Troon to the east by around 1⁄2 mile (800 metres), leaving travellers with an inconvenient journey by coach or on foot from the town centre to the initial passenger station.

It wasn't until 1892 that this problem was finally remedied by the Glasgow and South Western Railway, who opened a new deviation line and passenger station that was much better sited for the town.

Passenger services over the Kilmarnock branch were subsequently reinstated in May 1975, when the twice-daily Stranraer Harbour - London Euston boat trains were diverted over the route.