The station is managed by ScotRail and lies on the Neilston branch of the Cathcart Circle Lines, 7+3⁄4 miles (12.5 km) southwest of Glasgow Central.

The station was originally opened as part of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway on 1 May 1903.

[1] It closed on 1 January 1917 due to wartime economy,[1] and reopened on 1 February 1919 as Patterton for Darnley Rifle Range (sometimes referred to as simply Patterton for Darnley).

[2] Patterton is an intermediate station on the Glasgow Central — Neilston line.

Soon after, the area was evacuated and all services through Patterton were suspended until the blaze was brought under control.