The colliery railway was linked to the main line at Speakman's Sidings between Bedford Leigh and Tyldesley stations in 1882.
[9] In boundary changes made in 1894, this part of the Atherton township was added to Leigh Urban District.
[11][12] The town was also served by stations at Westleigh and Atherleigh on the Bolton and Leigh Railway and at Pennington.
[13][14] A crossover was located to the east of the station to facilitate changing lines for trains that terminated at Leigh.
Space for the structures was created by smaller arches built on either side of the railway running lines.
[19] In 1904 the goods yard had a full range of facilities and was able to accommodate "Furniture Vans, Carriages, Portable Engines, and Machines on Wheels; Livestock; Horse Boxes and Prize Cattle Vans; and Carriages by Passenger Train" as well as the normal goods and parcels.
[20] On opening, the passenger timetable allowed for direct travel from Bedford Leigh to Manchester on eight trains on weekdays, six to Liverpool, two to Kenyon and one to Warrington, with a connection to Chester.
[21] The timetable for 1934 shows Leigh having 23 direct weekday services to Manchester, 11 to Liverpool, 4 to Tyldesley, 4 to Wigan via Pennington Junction and 1 to Warrington.