As of December 2022, the typical weekday off-peak service is:[3] Northbound Southbound Services are significantly reduced on Sundays, with 1 train per hour to each of Blackpool North, Southport, Clitheroe, Wigan North Western, Stalybridge, Blackburn via Manchester Victoria and Manchester Airport.

[4] Services 8, 31, 36, 37, 67 and 100 also stop outside the station and run to Manchester, terminating at either Piccadilly Gardens or Shudehill Interchange.

[5] In 2007, Network Rail recognised that Salford Crescent could not cope with existing passenger levels, leading to platform overcrowding.

[6] It suggested expansion of the station with extra platforms, greater use of it as an interchange and use as a terminus for services from east of Manchester.

In 2012, improvement work started at the station, including platform extensions, a new rain canopy and the relocation of the ticket office to street level.