The station was opened on 21 July 1840 by the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.

[2] The station originally had two side platforms until the Dalry and North Johnstone Line was opened by the Glasgow and South Western Railway in 1905, when the station was remodeled with four platforms over two islands.

[3] Each new platform was 765 feet (233 m) long to accommodate the increased traffic, and were accessed via gangways from a covered walkway crossing the lines from the station building.

[3] The station also acted as the junction interchange between the line to Ayr and the original G&SWR main line to Kilmarnock, Dumfries and Carlisle from 1860 onwards, though the two routes actually separated a short distance to the west.

On Sundays, the Largs branch trains call hourly in each direction.