Well wasn't both services pitched to the DfT? Given they have to sign off any funding required? I'm sure that's how it was mentioned to us.
But what about the funding? We've increased head count or drivers, guards and managers to cover the additional work. Work that is being split over 2 depots.
I suggest putting those questions to the Department for Transport and West Midlands Railway management. West Midlands Railway will transfer to public ownership tomorrow Sunday 1 February 2026.
The information came from 'West Midlands Railway Management' as you call it. Given it all came from internal briefings.
Presumably like this class 350 working last week, operated by RailAdventure?
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
If it is not going to happen London Northwestern Railway should remove the Destination Manchester page from the What's New page on their website. The Department for Transport should be advising London Northwestern Railway to remove the Destination Manchester page from the What's New page on their website. It does not help the credibility of the Railway Industry if new passenger train services are being promised when there is no intention to run them.
And it's not been amazing so far.
Additional train crew etc are at Crewe depot. Very low cancellation on the Trent/Potteries due to staff availability. Don't sign Camp Hill line.
I thought this route extension has yet been approved by the DFT
This appears to be a technical route proving run, and not operated by WMT.
It had LNR staff onboard.
I’m aware, it’s when you said “later this year” it hasn’t been approved by the DFT to run this extended service
So people on here keep saying.
Might be good marketing but would it be useful to passengers? To make it useful they'd need to arrange through ticketing with the airlines, which isn't unprecedented but I imagine would be seen as too much complexity for the relatively small number of passengers who need to interchange between Birmingham and Manchester airports.
Even if they had through ticketing why would someone do that, rather than just change at Manchester or go via Heathrow.
If I were a passenger from say, Stafford or Stoke on Trent, then the option of a direct train to the airport could be quite attractive. Even though it might be a "slow" train, the knowledge that I wouldn't need to change trains whilst travelling with luggage could be quite persuasive, irrespective of any ticketing arrangements.
Both Stafford and Stoke already have direct services to/from Birmingham International (the CrossCountry service). Direct Manchester Airport services would be welcome though.
For the avoidance of doubt, @SCDR_WMR is correct. It may be the Principal change or the Subsidiary.
There's barely an origin-destination pair where you'd change at just one of Manchester or Birmingham airports. Let alone both!
You would be splitting the Rugeley International to make that possible I expect, you will really struggle to get another train to International.
We're under the impression Northern would potentially relinquish their Airport-Crewe service. Probably just gossip, but heard it a few times.
It's likely to release the train crew to cover other Northern services, not other WMR-LNR ones.
A straight swap with some stops cut out is the only option. There's no time for anything else.
Current evening Airport services don't go beyond Wilmslow.
Is there a reason why they don't run in the evening or Sundays? Can't see LNR not running then unless there is a physical reason.
I don't believe the service has ever been run through to Crewe evenings or Sundays. They turned back at Alderley Edge or Wilmslow in the evenings. On Sundays they used to run every two hours to Alderley Edge, which was upgraded to hourly Wilmslow - Liverpool Lime Street several years ago, and then downgraded to no trains at all in 2024 and only replacement bus.
I shan't do you the same discourtesy that you did to them in asking for your source on that.
