The complexity of that installation was not repeated for the remainder of the electrification scheme, which had its control and signalling systems renewed in ways that were less highly automated.

In April 2006, as part of the total renewal of the railway from Crewe to Cheadle Hulme near Stockport, the large 1959 signal box was demolished.

One Northern Trains service operates via Manchester Airport (all stations via Heald Green), the remainder all run via Stockport.

[3] Since May 2018, some Northern Trains services run beyond Piccadilly to either Liverpool Lime Street via Earlestown or Southport via Bolton.

The economic case for High Speed 2 Phase 1 includes one train per hour each way stopping at Wilmslow, travelling between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly.