The station is located on the Southport branch of the Merseyrail network's Northern Line.

Hightown railway station opened as Hightown on 24 July 1848 when the Liverpool, Crosby and Southport Railway (LC&SR) opened its line from Waterloo to Southport Eastbank Street.

[10] The level crossing was closed by British Rail in March 1967 when a road bridge was constructed nearby.

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

Platform 1 (Southbound) has a waiting room, ticket office, cycle storage and a photo booth, whilst Platform 2 (Northbound) has a shelter, a payphone and cycle storage.