A new direct train service linking New Street Station to Manchester Airport will launch in 2027. Introduced in two phases, Phase 1 will see London Northwestern Railway (LNR) extend its existing Crewe–Stoke–Stafford service to and from Birmingham this December, before Phase 2 extends it to and from Manchester next year.
The new, hourly LNR service will begin on December 13, 2026, stopping at 12 stations between Birmingham and Crewe, including the recently opened Darlaston and Willenhall railway stations. From May 2027, the line will go on to call at Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Wilmslow, Styal and Manchester Airport.
Currently, passengers travelling to Manchester Airport from Birmingham have to change at Crewe or Manchester Piccadilly. This new route will make access to the UK’s third-busiest airport (and busiest outside of London) much easier from the West Midlands. Timetables for the May changes will be made available next February.
“We are excited to launch this new service, which will provide direct connectivity to Manchester Airport from the West Midlands for the first time in decades, said Denise Wetton,” integrated managing director for GBR West Midlands and LNR managing director.
“Through close collaboration with Network Rail, Transport for Greater Manchester, Northern and Transport for West Midlands, we are excited to open up greener, simpler travel options for visitors to the airport, making rail the best choice for holidaymakers in the West Midlands.
“Not only that, this new route will deliver extra services for our existing customers across Birmingham, the Black Country and Staffordshire, providing more choice for when you travel. We look forward to inviting passengers on board, starting from December.”
What stations will the new service call at?
From December 2026, the service will operate between Birmingham New Street, Tame Bridge Parkway, Darlaston, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stone, Stoke-on-Trent, Longport, Kidsgrove, Alsager and Crewe. From May 2027, the service will also call at Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Wilmslow, Styal and Manchester Airport.
Why fly from Manchester Airport?
While Birmingham Airport (BHX) is more convenient and serves many destinations, Manchester Airport (MAN) offers significantly more options with its second terminal and far more direct long-haul flights. MAN boasts more than 200 destinations in four continents served by over 50 airlines. To learn more about Manchester Airport’s destinations, head here.
