Train running information is provided via digital display screens, timetable posters and automated announcements.

Its possible location can be seen, although unmarked, on the 1849 OS six-inch map immediately to the south-west of the line and east of Wallgate (the road).

The station consisted of two platforms joined by a wide curved passageway forming a bridge over the running lines.

[11] On 1 October 1888, the L&YR line from Atherton to Hindley opened, this was the last section of a direct route between Wigan and Manchester Victoria that avoided the bottleneck of traffic around Bolton.

[14] Journey times between Manchester and Liverpool where further improved when a bypass line opened on 1 June 1889 between Hindley and Pemberton, passing to the south of Wigan.

Express trains from Liverpool continued to serve Wigan L&YR on the route to Bolton Trinity Street, Rochdale and West Yorkshire.

[18] Following the railways 1955 Modernisation Plan steam traction was being phased out and by 1968 most services through Wigan Wallgate had been converted to diesel multiple unit (DMU) operation.

The steam loco depot just west of Wallgate had closed in April 1964 and the sidings converted for stabling of DMUs.

[19] The 1965 British Rail (London Midland) timetable still shows express trains (Liverpool Exchange to Yorkshire and beyond) using or bypassing Wigan Wallgate.

[citation needed] The direct line from Hindley to Pemberton was closed on 14 July 1969 and all Manchester to Liverpool Exchange trains were routed through Wallgate.

[23] Since diesel multiple units could not operate in the tunnels, trains from the Wigan line initially terminated at Sandhills (the last surface station), with passengers transferring to or from electric trains on the Southport or Ormskirk lines for the short trip into Liverpool city centre.

GMPTE subsidised British Rail to operate a regular interval timetable throughout the day, including stopping trains via the Atherton line.

The £12 million project involved a complete renewal of the track and signalling at Wallgate station and the adjacent carriage sidings.

Class 153 DMUs are unable to use this station because the body-side steps under the doors foul the platform coping stones here.

The Sunday service pattern is broadly similar, but trains to Piccadilly run onward to Stockport, then either to Hazel Grove or Chester via Altrincham (alternate hours).

[31] Previously there was no Sunday service on the Atherton line, this changed in May 2010 when a 12-month trial of an hourly Sunday service began between Wallgate and Manchester Victoria via Atherton (after Greater Manchester PTA agreed a funding package with train operator Northern Rail in December 2009[32]).

[33] Trains via Bolton from here have been withdrawn (save for a very limited morning weekday peak service to Manchester Piccadilly and Alderley Edge) - these now run to/from neighbouring Wigan North Western (though connections are available at Hindley).

[34] Changes instituted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic since the spring of 2020 have seen the timetable altered once again, with the Calder Valley service from Leeds via Dewsbury and Walkden routed back to nearby North Western through the day.