Potential new service from Birmingham to Manchester Airport

[absolutelymilk]

Manchester Airport happening, Manchester Victoria not. Crewe and Wolves drivers to be trained

mods note - split from this thread

As in a WMR service from Birmingham to Manchester Airport?

 

[Bald Rick]

Manchester Airport happening, Manchester Victoria not. Crewe and Wolves drivers to be trained

I wouldnt bet a tenner on it.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I wouldnt bet a tenner on it.

Which bit?

Internally everything it starting to gear up for it. Execs have said for a while it was confirmed.
Extra train crew have already been recruited, and now managers too (all in place by April).

 

[43074]

cant see that Manchester Airport thing happening

I wouldnt bet a tenner on it.

Why not?

 

[Chris172]

Which bit?

Internally everything it starting to gear up for it. Execs have said for a while it was confirmed.
Extra train crew have already been recruited, and now managers too (all in place by April).

Will New Street Guards and Drivers sign the new route. I know they are hiring extra Crewe guards at the moment

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Will New Street Guards and Drivers sign the new route. I know they are hiring extra Crewe guards at the moment

No idea, I don't think New St drivers sign Portabello Jnc, and the definitely don't sign Stafford - Crewe via Stoke

 

[185]

The only thing that would make sense is that if DfTO have decided to split Northern's Picc-Airport-Crewe in two and hand the southern section to LNR - this would tie with Network Rail suggesting that no new track access / path applications have been submitted. The service beyond Stafford to Birmingham was a historical one, axed prior to 2023 and can reasonably be reintroduced at relatively short notice.

It could be pie in the sky, however with Northern and WM/LNR effectively being the same company after February 1st 2026, anything is possible...

 

[SCDR_WMR]

The only thing that would make sense is that if DfTO have decided to split Northern's Picc-Airport-Crewe in two and hand the southern section to LNR - this would tie with Network Rail suggesting that no new track access / path applications have been submitted. The service beyond Stafford to Birmingham was a historical one, axed prior to 2023 and can reasonably be reintroduced at relatively short notice.

It could be pie in the sky, however with Northern and WM/LNR effectively being the same company after February 1st 2026, anything is possible...

Well the south part has to happen as that's the 2nd you for the new Darlaston/Willenhall stations.

The bit that may not happen, though everything we've been told internally for a while now says the path is in place, is Crewe to Man Airport.

I would love for it to happen, and for 730/2 to be cleared to work them as they could be a very useful/busy service.

 

[Silverlinky]

Will New Street Guards and Drivers sign the new route. I know they are hiring extra Crewe guards at the moment

Agreement has been reached for Crewe and Wolverhampton Drivers to sign the route, Crewe to get the bulk of the work, with a Dec 2026 target start or service date.

New Street Drivers are to learn the Hereford route in readiness for the Cross City (Camp Hill) extension to Worcester and Hereford.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Agreement has been reached for Crewe and Wolverhampton Drivers to sign the route, Crewe to get the bulk of the work, with a Dec 2026 target start or service date.

Confusing. So Birmingham get Manchester Airport and Liverpool services ?

New Street Drivers are to learn the Hereford route in readiness for the Cross City (Camp Hill) extension to Worcester and Hereford.

And that makes sense, but does it mean the Birmingham-Hereford services are not going to call at University ?

 

[185]

Confusing. So Birmingham get Manchester Airport and Liverpool services ?

Its not all about Birmingham... this is also useful for people at Stoke & Stone, Alsager, Stafford, Penkridge and Wolves. It also restores a link to those coming straight from Staffordshire to Walsall - quite a few used it. (Tame Bridge Pway is 5 mins drive from Walsall)

 

[Wyrleybart]

Its not all about Birmingham... this is also useful for people at Stoke & Stone, Alsager, Stafford, Penkridge and Wolves. It also restores a link to those coming straight from Staffordshire to Walsall - quite a few used it. (Tame Bridge Pway is 5 mins drive from Walsall)

Haha tell me about it !!!!
I remember when there was an 0657 Walsall-Euston (advertised as Watford Jn) which turned left at Aston and was right away Birmingham Interrnational, Coventry and Rugby etc. I imagine there must have been a number of overcarries on it heading for New St, and I think it got diverted into and back out of New St after a timetable like it. It was certainly an AM10 buit maybe was diagrammed one of the four 312s at that time.

 

[trundlewagon]

New Street Drivers are to learn the Hereford route in readiness for the Cross City (Camp Hill) extension to Worcester and Hereford

New Street are learning the Camp Hill line (for those services) but neither the X City nor Camp Hill will be going beyond their current termini any time soon...

 

[STKKK46]

Testing begins this evening…

 

[cle]

So which Birmingham - Wolves - Stafford path is this taking?

Will interestingly become the first regular (all day) Wilmslow-Birmingham service, might be well-used and relieve some of the XC services at Stockport/Macc.

 

[DavidGrain]

So which Birmingham - Wolves - Stafford path is this taking?

Will interestingly become the first regular (all day) Wilmslow-Birmingham service, might be well-used and relieve some of the XC services at Stockport/Macc.

The testing above related to Rail Adventure taking a class 350 from Crewe to Manchester Airport presumably just testing that this was physically possible with signalling, communication systems, clearance, timing etc. There was no need to test a 350 between Birmingham and Crewe as that was already a proved working.

There are four possible combinations of routes between Birmingham and Wolverhampton but I suspect that the Stour Valley route would be too congested. Years ago, before the road underpass at Tipton was built to avoid the level crossing, I used to visit the Tipton area and I used to see the barriers down for three trains, often five trains and on a couple of occasions seven trains. It was estimated that the barriers could be down for 42 minutes in the hour.

My guess is that Birmingham to Manchester airport would take a similar route to the Birmingham to Rugeley trains ie taking the Stour Valley route as far as Soho and then switching to the Grand Junction Route.

 

[cle]

Will this be 4 or 8 cars? I think that should influence the routing. If it's adding more capacity B-ham-Wolves-Stafford-Crewe, there is an argument for that.

One Shrewsbury stopper already now runs via Tame Bridge, likely for this reason.

 

[Fokx]

Will this be 4 or 8 cars? I think that should influence the routing. If it's adding more capacity B-ham-Wolves-Stafford-Crewe, there is an argument for that.

One Shrewsbury stopper already now runs via Tame Bridge, likely for this reason.

Most likely 4 until Manchester Airport gets a platform extension in the near future due to capacity constraints.

(8 cars can and have used the airport before, but now the majority of other services have also been extended from 2/3 to 5/6 carriages and there likely wouldn't be the spare capacity for it, even with permissive working in place)

 

[DavidGrain]

Photo from the Rail Adventure FaceBook page. Shows 350111 at Manchester Airport

 

[185]

Testing begins this evening…

2x return trips with a 350, Crewe-Airport. First trip was 5Z37, doing all stops. The second trip from Crewe did a reversal - into platform 3 and back to Wilmslow sidings. Believe the set used.was 111.

 

[CHAPS2034]

More testing on 5th and 6th March

5th

Realtime Trains | 5H03 0924 Crewe to Manchester Airport | 05/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5H03 0924 departure from Crewe to Manchester Airport on 05/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5K04 1035 Manchester Airport to Crewe | 05/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5K04 1035 departure from Manchester Airport to Crewe on 05/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

6th

Realtime Trains | 5H04 1133 Crewe to Manchester Airport | 06/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5H04 1133 departure from Crewe to Manchester Airport on 06/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5K05 1235 Manchester Airport to Crewe | 06/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5K05 1235 departure from Manchester Airport to Crewe on 06/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

A second run didn't happen on both days

 

[SCDR_WMR]

2nd runs are just paths at the moment. Will be utilised once DIs start signing off the route.

@cle these will be 4car 350s on this service due to it calling at Stone. Anything longer would foul the junction and signal prior to the platform.

Also, stations between Stafford and Crewe (other than Stoke) are 4 car only with no UDS authorisation.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Stop markers for class 350s have now been installed at Wilmslow

 

[lowe1409]

Stop markers for class 350s have now been installed at Wilmslow

That's interesting. I've not clocked them last time I was there though I wasn't exactly looking for them either.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Stop markers for class 350s have now been installed at Wilmslow

Is that for all 4 platforms or just the Airport pair?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Just a quick update as a few on here have mentioned no paths being used.

Driver training is due to start w/c 18th May. Single unit being used for 1 trip daily currently so that's why not much has been seen

 

[lowe1409]

Just a quick update as a few on here have mentioned no paths being used.

Driver training is due to start w/c 18th May. Single unit being used for 1 trip daily currently so that's why not much has been seen

Feel free to correct me but I thought driver training had already started? There's been plenty of daytime trips already such as https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C05325/2026-04-06/detailed#allox_id=0

I do believe however it is generally only the first few paths in the morning which are being used at present though generally it tends to make at least two trips in my experience

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Feel free to correct me but I thought driver training had already started? There's been plenty of daytime trips already such as https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C05325/2026-04-06/detailed#allox_id=0

I do believe however it is generally only the first few paths in the morning which are being used at present though generally it tends to make at least two trips in my experience

No. Up to now it has been Rail Adventure mostly. There is now an instructor and managers passed out on the route, which is the precursor to training for the rest of the depot to begin.

It is the solo instructor who is making the daily trips currently.

 

[lowe1409]

No. Up to now it has been Rail Adventure mostly. There is now an instructor and managers passed out on the route, which is the precursor to training for the rest of the depot to begin.

It is the solo instructor who is making the daily trips currently.

I was under the impression that Rail adventure were only doing the night time trips? But makes a lot more sense now why they're only a couple trips a day on generally the first couple days of the week if its just the one instructor driving them.

 

[Lewisham2221]

That's interesting. I've not clocked them last time I was there though I wasn't exactly looking for them either.

It's a small "Class 350" sign added above the existing Class 197 stop markers. Easy to miss, but it's a darker shade of blue, which caught my attention.

Is that for all 4 platforms or just the Airport pair?

North end of platforms 2 and 3 are where I noticed them