Direct Manchester Airport train from Stoke-on-Trent confirmed for 2027

A direct train connecting Stoke-on-Trent with Manchester Airport will begin in May 2027, making journeys simpler for passengers across North Staffordshire.

THE SIGNAL BRIEF

What’s new: An hourly direct train service connecting Stoke-on-Trent with Manchester Airport will begin operating in May 2027.

By the numbers: The complete route will serve 17 stations between Birmingham New Street and Manchester Airport.

What’s next: Services between Birmingham, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe will launch on 13 December 2026 before the route is extended to the airport.

Why it matters: Passengers will no longer need to change trains or travel through Manchester city centre to reach the airport.

Residents across North Staffordshire will soon benefit from direct train services to Manchester Airport after London Northwestern Railway announced a new route serving Stoke-on-Trent.

The hourly service will connect Birmingham New Street, the Black Country, Staffordshire, Cheshire and Manchester Airport, giving passengers a direct rail route to the airport for the first time in decades.

It will be introduced in two phases. The first phase will see a new service between Birmingham and Crewe begin on Sunday 13 December 2026.

The service will then be extended to Manchester Airport in May 2027, including stops at Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Wilmslow and Styal.

For years, passengers travelling from Stoke-on-Trent have needed to change trains during their journey or travel beyond the airport to Manchester city centre before heading back.

The new connection will provide a simpler journey for holidaymakers, business travellers and visitors while strengthening links between North Staffordshire and one of the UK’s most important international transport hubs.

Hourly trains serving 17 stations

The complete route between Birmingham New Street and Manchester Airport will call at:

• Birmingham New Street
• Tame Bridge Parkway
• Darlaston
• Willenhall
• Wolverhampton
• Stafford
• Stone
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Longport
• Kidsgrove
• Alsager
• Crewe
• Sandbach
• Holmes Chapel
• Wilmslow
• Styal
• Manchester Airport

West Midlands Trains has also said the service will provide later evening trains, improved Sunday services and hundreds of new rail connections to Manchester Airport for passengers travelling from Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

Denise Wetton, integrated managing director for GBR West Midlands and London Northwestern Railway managing director, said:

“We are excited to launch this new service which will provide direct connectivity to Manchester Airport from Stoke-on-Trent and the West Midlands for the first time in decades.

“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 soon.”

Campaign backed by 973 residents

The announcement follows a campaign led by Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell and Newcastle-under-Lyme MP Adam Jogee.

The MPs recently presented petitions to Parliament calling for a direct rail link between Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester Airport.

Adam Jogee’s petition received 401 signatures, while Gareth Snell’s petition attracted 572, bringing the combined total to 973.

Adam Jogee first raised the case for a direct route in Parliament on 11 September 2025 during a Commons debate about regional transport inequality.

Gareth Snell first raised the issue on 30 January 2018 during a debate about high speed rail. He also highlighted the potential economic and practical benefits of the connection during discussions about the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill in June 2025.

Gareth Snell MP said:

"This is a hugely welcome announcement and a significant win for Stoke-on-Trent and the wider North Staffordshire area. I have long argued that improving connections to Manchester Airport would unlock opportunities for local residents and businesses, and it is excellent to see those arguments now being recognised.

"The direct service will make travelling to the airport quicker, easier and far less stressful. Whether people are heading off on holiday, travelling for work or welcoming visitors to our city, they will benefit from a rail service that better reflects the needs of our community.

"I want to thank everyone who signed our petitions and supported the campaign. Their voices have helped demonstrate the strength of local feeling on this issue. This new route will improve connectivity, support economic growth and further strengthen Stoke-on-Trent's position as a great place to live, work, invest and do business."

Connecting North Staffordshire with international travel

Adam Jogee visited Manchester Airport alongside senior representatives from GBR West Midlands, West Midlands Trains, Manchester Airport and Transport for Greater Manchester to mark the announcement and champion the new route.

Adam Jogee MP said:

“Today’s announcement is a brilliant step forward for the connectivity of our area, for families heading off on their holidays, and for the offer we present internationally.

“Newcastle-under-Lyme and North Staffordshire have a brilliant offer for investors and global businesses, but that offer is only as strong as the ability to get here.

“This is great news for our area, and I was delighted to be at Manchester Airport alongside representatives from the rail operators and the airport to mark the announcement. Indeed, the journey there and the struggle for parking highlighted just what a major, urgently needed improvement this will be for those of us who live, learn and work in Newcastle-under-Lyme.”

Manchester Airport is the third largest airport in the country by passenger numbers. It serves more than 200 destinations across four continents through more than 50 airlines.

Its long haul network includes New York, Atlanta, Toronto, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Dubai and Islamabad, alongside major cities across Europe.

The airport has also completed a decade long, £1.5 billion investment in its Terminal 2.

Chris Woodroofe, managing director at Manchester Airport, said:

"We're proud to serve more than 32 million passengers every year, including millions from the West Midlands and Staffordshire in the last 12 months.

"This new service is great news for them, but also for long-haul travellers from the region who might currently fly indirectly from other airports, or face a long journey to the South East.

"This service will create the first direct rail link between the West Midlands and Manchester Airport for decades and open up more options for people to reach us by public transport. In turn, it gives those travellers access to our huge global network of destinations, unrivalled in the UK outside London."

Easier journeys for work and holidays

The Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said the service would save passengers time and improve access to opportunities.

He said:

“This new direct service is a clear example of public ownership delivering for passengers. Whether you're jetting off on holiday or travelling for work, connectivity like this is exactly what our railways should be providing.

"A direct, hourly service between Birmingham, the Potteries and Manchester Airport will save passengers time, boost access to opportunities and give passengers an easier way to travel to one of the UK's biggest airports. This is what Great British Railways will be all about: a simpler, more joined-up network that works for passengers whilst boosting growth, jobs and homes."

Simon Elliott, network director for rail at Transport for Greater Manchester, said:

“This is a welcome announcement for Greater Manchester, strengthening direct rail links between the North of England and the Midlands and making it easier for more people to travel to and from Manchester Airport.

“Providing better rail connectivity to the airport supports our region’s economy, opening up access to jobs, tourism and international markets, while giving passengers a simpler and more sustainable way to travel.

“We have worked closely with London Northwestern Railway, Northern and Network Rail as these proposals have developed, and we look forward to seeing the benefits of this new service for passengers and Greater Manchester.”

Tricia Williams, managing director at Northern, said:

"This new service is a great step forward for passengers travelling between the West Midlands and the North West. Our teams at Northern have worked closely with London Northwestern Railway, Transport for Greater Manchester and Network Rail throughout its development, and it's fantastic to see that collaboration deliver real benefits, both for holidaymakers heading to Manchester Airport and for the communities we serve along the way.

"This is a great example of what we can deliver together as we move towards Great British Railways. We're pleased to support this new service, which will make journeys simpler and more sustainable for passengers across the North and Midlands."

London Northwestern Railway is owned by WM Trains Limited, which was brought into public ownership in February 2026.