[1] In 1851 a branch line was opened, without parliamentary authorisation, from the station to Ainsdale Corn Mill 53 ch (3,500 ft; 1,100 m) away on the east side of Liverpool Road.

[8] In 1978 the station became part of the Merseyrail network's Northern Line (operated by British Rail until privatised in 1995).

The improvement plans for the station were revealed at a public meeting at the village church on 20 July 2015, and it includes new waiting rooms and a new ticket office on the Southport Platform, as well as better access to the platforms and car park and a refurbished Footbridge.

[15] The station has mounted on its external wall a John Agar (Bury) clock face, the internal workings of which converted from pendulum to electric drive some time ago.

Trains operate every 15 minutes throughout the day from Monday to Saturday to Southport to the north, and to Hunts Cross via Liverpool Central to the south.