The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Trains and it is situated 4+1⁄4 miles (6.8 km) southeast of Liverpool Lime Street on the main line to Runcorn and Crewe.

Platforms 3 and 4 are on the slow lines and are used infrequently, mainly where faster services are booked to overtake stopping services on this stretch of line (This is most common in the Liverpool-bound direction).

In 2020 the station had new dot-matrix public information screens installed inside the glass shelter areas along the platforms.

The station building on the over bridge has a staffed booking office that is open during hours when trains are serving the station, this is operated by Northern Trains though sponsored by Merseytravel.

This consists of two trains per hour to Warrington Central (one of which is extended through to Manchester Oxford Road) and westbound to Liverpool Lime Street, all operated by Northern Trains.