The first of two major upgrades to the facilities came the following year, but the opening of the Lancashire Union Railway from and in 1869, the Great Harwood Loop in 1877 and the extension of the Clitheroe line to in 1880 to give the L&Y a through route to Scotland via the Settle-Carlisle Line led to significant increases in traffic that put the station under major strain. A fatal collision there that led to the deaths of 7 people in 1881 prompted the L&Y to make plans for another expansion & remodelling project, which was completed between 1886 & 1888. The new station had two island platforms, each with west-facing bays to give seven working faces in total plus an impressive two-bay overall roof. Destinations served included via , , , and via the West Lancashire Railway in addition to those mentioned previously. Long distance through coaches to Scotland and London Euston (via Manchester Victoria, and ) also operated from here well into British Rail days.