A similar situation existed at Bromley Cross on the Bolton to Blackburn line, where the two control areas also overlap.

[5]Network Rail announced in May 2012 that the box was due to be abolished in January 2013, with control passing to the Piccadilly signalling centre.

This is part of a programme of signalling renewals associated with the planned electrification of the Manchester-Preston line (due for completion in 2016).

[6] Over one million pounds' worth of improvements to the station (including the removal of the footbridge shown in the photo and its replacement with step-free access ramps) were completed in November 2012.

[8] As of December 2022, 1 train per hour calls at this station off-peak 7 days a week between Manchester Airport and Blackpool North.

[10] Saturday and Sunday services were replaced by buses most weekends from May 2015 until November 2018 due to the late-running electrification work on the route.

In December 2021, this service was withdrawn due to train crew availability and to improve reliability on the line, and both Blackrod and Adlington were only served at peak times.

[citation needed] Since the December 2022 timetable change, most services are operated by 6-carriage Class 331 units which were previously too long to allow all doors to open on platform 1 (for services from Manchester towards Blackpool); as a result only the doors in the front 5 carriages would open when the train stops on platform 1.