London Northwestern Railway will create its direct Birmingham to Manchester Airport service by extending a service it already runs. The existing Crewe–Stoke–Stafford service will be extended at both ends. The change comes in two stages, and the first arrives in December 2026.

A West Midlands Railway train arriving at Willenhall station
A photograph taken in March 2026 shows a West Midlands Railway train arriving at the newly opened Willenhall station. Photo: Transport for West Midlands

In that first stage the service runs south to Birmingham New Street and serves 12 stations in both directions. The operator stretches an existing route instead of creating one from scratch. So the first-stage benefits arrive along the Birmingham–Crewe corridor, while the direct airport link follows in May 2027. Alongside the through journey, London Northwestern Railway lists an extra train each hour between Stafford and Birmingham. It also promises better frequency at the new Black Country stations.

Two of those stations are barely six months old. Willenhall and Darlaston opened on 19 March 2026 after an £85 million investment by Transport for West Midlands. The previous stations there closed in 1965. Since opening, each has had one train an hour from Monday to Saturday. The extra hourly Stafford–Birmingham train arriving in December calls at both.

Stations called at by stage, Birmingham New Street to Manchester Airport, December 2026 and May 2027
Station Called at from December 2026 Called at from May 2027
Birmingham New Street Yes Yes
Tame Bridge Parkway Yes Yes
Darlaston Yes Yes
Willenhall Yes Yes
Wolverhampton Yes Yes
Stafford Yes Yes
Stone Yes Yes
Stoke-on-Trent Yes Yes
Longport Yes Yes
Kidsgrove Yes Yes
Alsager Yes Yes
Crewe Yes Yes
Sandbach No Yes
Holmes Chapel No Yes
Wilmslow No Yes
Styal No Yes
Manchester Airport No Yes

Both stages run in both directions. The first stage ends at Crewe, and the five stations beyond it join the route only when the airport extension opens.

What the May 2027 Manchester Airport stage adds

The second stage takes the same service north of Crewe in May 2027. It will then also call at Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Wilmslow, Styal and Manchester Airport. That brings the full route to 17 stations. Until then the operator reaches the airport corridor only as far as Crewe.

Two further changes arrive with the airport extension. Both sit on the Crewe to airport leg, not on the new southern section. Last trains move to about 22:00, against 20:00 today. Sunday frequency rises to one train an hour, instead of one every two hours.

Crewe–Manchester Airport section: current position and May 2027 plan
Feature Today From May 2027
Northern limit of the service being extended Crewe Manchester Airport
Last trains, Crewe to the airport About 20:00 About 22:00
Sunday service, Crewe to the airport One train every two hours One train an hour

Figures describe the Crewe to Manchester Airport section only, not the new southern section between Crewe and Birmingham.

Timetables, tickets and the work still to come

Final timetables for the December changes reach journey planners in late September, while the May 2027 timings follow in February. Tickets go on sale roughly 12 weeks before travel. The operator also says it will keep working with Network Rail and other train operators before the launch.

WM Trains and its Greater Manchester growth case

WM Trains Limited operates the London Northwestern Railway brand. Its passenger services transferred into public ownership under DfT Operator Ltd on 1 February 2026. The same page that sets out the airport plan also makes a commercial case. Better links between Greater Manchester and the existing network could deliver sustainable growth, the operator says. That growth could then help fund investment in the wider railway. The page also invites emails of support or feedback on the proposals.