The station was originally part of the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway.

It was opened in 1840 and amalgamated into the neighbouring Shields Road station in 1925.

Sources published in the late 20th century claim that Pollokshields station opened on 14 July 1840.

The adjacent Shields station was developed around the time that the Paisley Canal Line opened in 1885.

This combined station was located within the complex of lines forming Shields Junction.