A new "Curve" was built at Newton Junction so that trains could run towards Manchester; this gave the station a triangular formation with six platforms.

The method of operation involved the despatch of a Grand Junction train from both Liverpool and Manchester to meet at Earlestown.

This inconvenient routing was eliminated by the construction of the Golborne cut-off, a direct connection avoiding Earlestown.

The original route, on the eastern section of the triangle, was electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz AC as part of the West Coast Main Line electrification, since it was then used by a few trains stopping at Earlestown.

Previously, despite the long-standing electrification of part of the station, no electrically operated passenger services were scheduled to call at Earlestown.

[2] Earlestown is one of two triangular railway stations left in the UK, the other being Shipley in West Yorkshire The waiting room on the Liverpool-bound platform is the oldest station building in the world still in passenger service, although this is now limited to providing shelter from the rain under its canopy.

[3] The building is currently derelict, with tickets being sold in a more recent structure on the opposite side of the line.

There is an evening service to from Ellesmere Port to Liverpool Lime Street, operated by Northern.

There is an hourly service to Leeds via Manchester Victoria, Halifax and Bradford Interchange - operated by Northern.