[2] As Orbiston station was quite some distance from the rapidly expanding Motherwell town centre, the decision was taken by the Caledonian Railway to build a station at 'Lesmahagow Junction', the point where the Motherwell Deviation branch of the Caledonian Railway Main Line met the lines to Mossend, Hamilton and Lesmahagow.

Diagrams are nominally worked so that these units will only stay at Motherwell for one night before returning to their allocated depot.

Open access operator Grand Union Trains plans to use the station on a Stirling to London Euston service to begin in 2025.

One train per day runs southbound towards Plymouth via Edinburgh Waverley, York, Birmingham New Street and Bristol Temple Meads.

During times of disruption such as the closure of the West Coast Main Line between Uddingston and Law Junction for engineering works, Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry services can be diverted along the Hamilton Circle and Wishaw Deviation (and sometimes the line to Edinburgh via Shotts) and will use Platforms 3 and 4.

Trains provided by London North Eastern Railway will generally be suspended in this event as their drivers do not have the required route knowledge.