The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, 13 miles (21 km) south west of Glasgow Central.

The original Howwood station was opened on 21 July 1840 by the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway and was known as Howood.

[1] A new station called Howwood was opened on 1 December 1876,[1] 200 metres south west of the original, and closed on 7 March 1955.

Trains run from Ayr-Glasgow Central, calling at all stops between Glasgow and Ayr.

[2] This drops to hourly in the evening and on Sundays, when trains run to either Ardrossan Harbour or Largs.