It is a principal stop on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Glasgow Central.

The platforms are not bidirectional, except that the slow line between the station and Winwick Junction, some 2+1⁄2 miles (4 km) to the north.

The station's best known landmark is the huge Unilever detergent manufacturing plant which stands overlooking the site.

In 2009, an extension to the existing car park and a new taxi rank were built, along with improvements to the platforms and a new ticket office and travel centre.

In the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands the UK government proposed reinstating the Low Level station as part of a new connection to Liverpool from HS2[7] The station lies on the West Coast Main Line, operated by Avanti West Coast, with regular services to London, Birmingham, and Scotland.

[11] The regular electric local service to and from Liverpool Lime Street that ran up until spring 2020 no longer operates.