It was well used from the beginning and was subsequently quadrupled shortly after the turn of the century, later carrying through expresses from Manchester to Blackpool, Windermere and Glasgow (again to avoid Bolton) in addition to Liverpool workings.

The cutbacks of the mid to late 1960s saw all the long-distance services diverted via other routes, rendering the additional ("fast line") tracks obsolete and they were taken out of use on 21 November 1965.

During the early to middle 1970s, the station had a sparse service outside weekday peak periods (see British Railways timetable 95, 1974) but in more recent times, the frequency levels have improved considerably with financial support from GMPTE, with a resultant increase in patronage.

There is a waiting room at platform level, along with digital information screens, timetable posters and a P.A system to offer automated train running announcements.

Only a limited direct service now operates onward to Southport (in the early morning, evening peak and late nights since the winter 2019 timetable change) through the week and on Saturdays.

[5] Recent timetables provide a convenient connection (although a platform change must be made which is not possible for wheelchair users) at Hindley for services to Bolton.