Access to the Bolton platform is by a long steep multi-stepped ramp and to the Wigan platform via a steep unstepped ramp. Access to both platforms has not been improved for those with prams, pushchairs or wheelchairs. There is a large free car park with unsignposted access to the station. The station is partly maintained by the Friends of Westhoughton Station, a voluntary group set up in 2012 with the aim of brightening up the station and providing floral displays. For many years Westhoughton had an hourly service. Since the 1980s services have dramatically improved:  Since the May 2018 timetable change, the service pattern has been altered significantly. All westbound trains now run to and from , where connections are available for Preston and points north and also for Crewe, London Euston and stations to Liverpool Lime Street via St Helens. Eastbound, there are two trains per hour to Bolton and Salford Crescent - one continues to Manchester Piccadilly, and , whilst the other runs to Manchester Victoria and . There are no longer regular trains to Wigan Wallgate and onward to (save for a small number of peak hour services) - passengers must change at if travelling to these destinations. In the evening, the service drops to hourly. From the December 2019 timetable change however, the timetable is being revamped once again - though the service frequency remains unchanged, trains will now run through to Southport via Wallgate once again westbound and alternately to Stalybridge via Victoria and Alderley Edge via Piccadilly on weekdays and Saturdays. On Sundays, there'll be an hourly service to Manchester Victoria and Wigan N.W. On weekends, trains were replaced by buses until the end of 2018 due to ongoing electrification work on the Preston - Bolton - Salford Crescent route (which ran significantly behind schedule). Regular through services to Liverpool via Wallgate and once operated via Bolton/Westhoughton, which originally formed part of the Liverpool and Bury Railway and also the L&Y main line between Liverpool Exchange and Manchester, prior to the opening of the direct route through Swinton. However, since the western end of the route was electrified in 1978, Kirkby trains have either terminated at Wigan or been re-routed via Atherton. Trains continuing to Bolton pass by, but cannot stop at, (Junction) station, as there are no platforms for the Wigan line. Passengers wishing to travel from Westhoughton to Preston and Blackpool must either change at Wigan Wallgate, usually crossing the road to Wigan North Western, a 100 yards walk, or via Bolton.