Due to considerable housing development in the area, it is now a well-used commuter station and (according to official Strategic Rail Authority figures) has in the past vied (with Atherton railway station and Walkden railway station) for the position of the most used station on the line. In the period 2004 to 2012 passenger usage has more than doubled. The slight drop in usage in 2006-07 may be due to statistical correction rather than genuine decline. A substantial increase in usage (2008–09, see SRA figures right) was reported. Part of this was explained in the SRA notes as an attempt more accurately to include local (transport executive) tickets.