West Midlands Trains "Destination Manchester" - will it happen?

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I do not work in the railway industry so I have no inside information on this or anything else. I sent an email enquiry to stakeholders@wmtrains.co.uk to ask about the current status of this proposed new passenger train service which is the subject of the currently showing "Destination Manchester" page on the London Northwestern Railway website. I received the following quoted reply.

Thanks for the submitted information. To me, the word "apiration" in the LNR reply tells of the actual current state of matters.

 

[llewjones]

Both Stafford and Stoke already have direct services to/from Birmingham International (the CrossCountry service). Direct Manchester Airport services would be welcome though.

I should have made it clear, I was referring to a link from Stoke/Stafford to Manchester Airport

 

[Bald Rick]

I do not work in the railway industry so I have no inside information on this or anything else. I sent an email enquiry to stakeholders@wmtrains.co.uk to ask about the current status of this proposed new passenger train service which is the subject of the currently showing "Destination Manchester" page on the London Northwestern Railway website. I received the following quoted reply.

Thanks for posting that. It is accurate.

 

[SeanM1997]

I know it won't happen but it would enhance connectivity from Walsall/Cannock if the service became a Manchester Airport - Crewe - Stoke - Stafford - Rugeley - Walsall - Birmingham NS - Birmingham International, connecting the 2 airports and avoiding the vast amount of movements in Wolverhampton. Yes slower, but CrossCountr already connect Stoke to Birmingham and this would be an alternative route

I believe there was once ambition to connect Stoke and Walsal which this could do

 

[VT 390]

I know it won't happen but it would enhance connectivity from Walsall/Cannock if the service became a Manchester Airport - Crewe - Stoke - Stafford - Rugeley - Walsall - Birmingham NS - Birmingham International, connecting the 2 airports and avoiding the vast amount of movements in Wolverhampton. Yes slower, but CrossCountr already connect Stoke to Birmingham and this would be an alternative route

I believe there was once ambition to connect Stoke and Walsal which this could do

If possible this would provide useful connections from Walsall/Cannock to the north but I would have thought this would cause more conflicts as via Wolverhampton would mostly use existing services/reinstating removed services where as going via Rugeley would have to cross Colwich Junction and cross the entire WCML (southbound) north of Rugeley Trent Valley. There would also be the single track/platform section through Rugeley Trent Valley station which could cause congestion on the WCML. At least going via Wolverhampton the WCML fast lines can be entirely avoided to minimise conflicting movements.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Will the platform allocation intended for this new service be to the availability detriment of existing services...and if so, which ones?

 

[The Planner]

Will the platform allocation intended for this new service be to the availability detriment of existing services...and if so, which ones?

I doubt its got to that level of detail yet.

 

[Topological]

I know it won't happen but it would enhance connectivity from Walsall/Cannock if the service became a Manchester Airport - Crewe - Stoke - Stafford - Rugeley - Walsall - Birmingham NS - Birmingham International, connecting the 2 airports and avoiding the vast amount of movements in Wolverhampton. Yes slower, but CrossCountr already connect Stoke to Birmingham and this would be an alternative route

I believe there was once ambition to connect Stoke and Walsal which this could do

I can see the logic, but the crossing of the WCML would be problematic.

You could use the line from Stafford to Wolverhampton via Penkridge and then go to Walsall to reverse. That would be easier to path if not serving Wolverhampton as it could cross at the same time as a train was crossing to/from the Shrewsbury line immediately north of Wolverhampton station.

People might then say just serve Wolverhampton as well. Then you have more potential conflicts as anything on the Telford/Shrewsbury line comes into consideration. Wolverhampton does have 4 through platforms to mitigate slightly. That would need modelling.

I would start back from Piccadilly using the path of something from the main shed to the airport. The service could then also take price sensitive customers between Manchester and Birmingham. It may only be the Northern stopper to Crewe that has an airport path from the main shed though. I cannot remember.

Would anyone then choose to use this service instead of one of the existing connections is a good question, but it might be worth trying.

 

[JonathanH]

I would start back from Piccadilly using the path of something from the main shed to the airport. The service could then also take price sensitive customers between Manchester and Birmingham. It may only be the Northern stopper to Crewe that has an airport path from the main shed though. I cannot remember.

The price sensitive customers will happily change at Crewe or the Airport, and don't need to specifically be catered for by a through train.

 

[Topological]

The price sensitive customers will happily change at Crewe or the Airport, and don't need to specifically be catered for by a through train.

I know. In the case of London it is on and off the TfW (though less now because I believe the connections changed)

I do not know which train between Manchester and Crewe caters for price sensitive Manchester to Birmingham connections.

 

[JonathanH]

I know. In the case of London it is on and off the TfW (though less now because I believe the connections changed)

I do not know which train between Manchester and Crewe caters for price sensitive Manchester to Birmingham connections.

The Northern trains between Manchester and Crewe generally have relatively cheap advance fares available. Split at Crewe and buy an LNR advance fare to Birmingham.

 

[Farigiraf]

I know any current and potential usage for Styal station is largely irrelevant with its 28k annual usage compared to the 'big fish' (Stoke - Airport, Stoke - Birmingham) but it does seem like it hasn't been thought of much, as if its hourly stop is moved to an Airport terminator service it'll lose its direct service to Manchester Piccadilly, the main destination for passengers using the station. That'll probably deter at least half the existing passengers from using the station, which is a small but not negligible ~10,000 people per year. Plus the Airport-Piccadilly local stations, such as East Didsbury, will lose their hourly Crewe connection which can be rather useful.

Bringing up Styal station for the 2nd time this thread now, my apologies for this, it's just quite the curiosity, going from a sporadic service, to 1tph to Manchester, to no trains to Manchester but an hourly service to Birmingham.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I know any current and potential usage for Styal station is largely irrelevant with its 28k annual usage compared to the 'big fish' (Stoke - Airport, Stoke - Birmingham) but it does seem like it hasn't been thought of much, as if its hourly stop is moved to an Airport terminator service it'll lose its direct service to Manchester Piccadilly, the main destination for passengers using the station. That'll probably deter at least half the existing passengers from using the station, which is a small but not negligible ~10,000 people per year. Plus the Airport-Piccadilly local stations, such as East Didsbury, will lose their hourly Crewe connection which can be rather useful.

Bringing up Styal station for the 2nd time this thread now, my apologies for this, it's just quite the curiosity, going from a sporadic service, to 1tph to Manchester, to no trains to Manchester but an hourly service to Birmingham.

I guess it means they head to Wilmslow on the LNR and onwards to Manchester. Certainly a poorer service on the face of it. Whether evening/Sunday services make up for that I don't know.

 

[jfollows]

The sporadic service was because the 2018 timetable was too tight at Crewe (time between arrival and departure) to allow Styal calls. Thank goodness that’s now gone.

Via Wilmslow became a permitted route on mileage because the official mileage from Styal to Manchester is now via Manchester Airport.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I guess it means they head to Wilmslow on the LNR and onwards to Manchester.

Why not just change at the Airport? The service is very frequent.

 

[Farigiraf]

I guess it means they head to Wilmslow on the LNR and onwards to Manchester. Certainly a poorer service on the face of it. Whether evening/Sunday services make up for that I don't know.

With a decent connection at Wilmslow it takes roughly the same time to get to Piccadilly as the direct service, but the additional change will be a deterrent for many potential users of the station.

Yes, changing trains should be normalised more in UK rail passengers' mindsets, but that won't happen until reliability improves and Styal certainly won't be the birthplace of this change of thinking.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I guess it means they head to Wilmslow on the LNR and onwards to Manchester. Certainly a poorer service on the face of it. Whether evening/Sunday services make up for that I don't know.

Let us not forget that Styal railway station is very useful for prison visitors at Styal prison and for Styal line travellers wishing to visit the National Trust property of Quarry Bank Mill.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Feb 2026 ==

With a decent connection at Wilmslow it takes roughly the same time to get to Piccadilly as the direct service, but the additional change will be a deterrent for many potential users of the station.

Yes, changing trains should be normalised more in UK rail passengers' mindsets, but that won't happen until reliability improves and Styal certainly won't be the birthplace of this change of thinking.

Would there be greater travel costs involved in the current direct Styal line to Manchester and the referred to Styal - Wilmslow plus Wilmslow-Manchester Piccadilly

 

[Farigiraf]

Would there be greater travel costs involved in the current direct Styal line to Manchester and the referred to Styal - Wilmslow plus Wilmslow-Manchester Piccadilly

Via Wilmslow is a permitted route from Styal to Manchester Stations - you can buy a non-split ticket via Wilmslow on the forum ticketing site, which proves that it's valid.

 

[jfollows]

Would there be greater travel costs involved in the current direct Styal line to Manchester and the referred to Styal - Wilmslow plus Wilmslow-Manchester Piccadilly

I alluded to it earlier

Via Wilmslow became a permitted route on mileage because the official mileage from Styal to Manchester is now via Manchester Airport.

but to amplify, a “permitted route” is always the shortest route or one not more than three miles longer than the shortest route.
With the advent of the Manchester Airport branch, the defined “direct” route from Styal via Heald Green to Manchester has been via Manchester Airport, with an increase in the defined distance as a result. The route via Wilmslow is now not more than three miles longer than this, so has become a “permitted route” also.

Styal line stations to Alsager / Kidsgrove..

Using an Off Peak Day Return ticket (routed "Any Permitted") from certain origin stations on the Styal line (in the South Manchester area) which way can you travel to get to Alsager (or Kidsgrove), as the case may be? • Heald Green (or Gatley) to Alsager (or Kidsgrove) is £17.80. • Manchester...

www.railforums.co.uk

I think that the official mileage Styal-Heald Green is now via Manchester Airport, so Styal to Manchester is valid via Wilmslow as one example, and there may be follow-on implications, all based on the National Rail timetable mileage and therefore not directly controlled by the operating companies.

NRT mileage from December 2024:
Piccadilly 0.00
Heald Green 8.25
Manchester Airport 9.75
Styal 12.00 (9m 69ch direct?)
Wilmslow 13.75 (but 12.00 via Stockport)

This is obviously ridiculous in face of the “real” mileage but it’s the mileage on which the comparisons are done.

Styal-Wilmslow-Stockport-Manchester is therefore officially 13.75 miles versus 12.00 miles “direct” so within 3 miles.

I don’t believe that the Sectional Appendix, or hence the actual mileage, is involved here. I’m happy to be proved wrong!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If the Manchester to Wilmslow route is truncated at Manchester Airport, a new line name will be needed to replace the current "Styal line" nomenclature.

 

[Topological]

If the Manchester to Wilmslow route is truncated at Manchester Airport, a new line name will be needed to replace the current "Styal line" nomenclature.

Assuming the line is still open (which it would be) then why?

Although the trains that route via the Styal line for diversion route knowledge are not calling at Styal, they do pass through Styal.

 

[cle]

Could an Airport terminator be extended - even in peak hours (could be like 2 journey E/W) to and from Crewe, or Wilmslow even - to enable a limited Styal-Manchester service?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Have Northern Trains recently made any online available comment with regards to their existing Styal line services being short-terminated at Manchester Airport and how this will affect Styal railway station?

 

[jfollows]

Could an Airport terminator be extended - even in peak hours (could be like 2 journey E/W) to and from Crewe, or Wilmslow even - to enable a limited Styal-Manchester service?

Wilmslow has a reversing siding which is booked to be used by terminating trains from the north, mainly on Sundays. Trains can also reverse in the platforms.

 

[ayubdaud]

Seems like driver training paths have been added from Crewe to Manchester Airport from next week

Realtime Trains | Departures from Manchester Airport all day on 02/03/2026

Train information at Manchester Airport all day on 02/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[tfw756rider]

Seems like driver training paths have been added from Crewe to Manchester Airport from next week

Realtime Trains | Departures from Manchester Airport all day on 02/03/2026

Train information at Manchester Airport all day on 02/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Operated by West Midlands Trains with Class 323 timing loads!

 

[Kite159]

Operated by West Midlands Trains with Class 323 timing loads

Both West Midlands Railway branded & London Northwestern branded trains appear on RTT as 'West Midlands Trains'.

And timing load is meaningless

 

[tfw756rider]

Both West Midlands Railway branded & London Northwestern branded trains appear on RTT as 'West Midlands Trains'.

I know - that's because West Midlands Trains is the Train Operating Company (TOC) of both of those brands (although that's not consistent with Realtime Trains splitting Govia Thameslink Railway into its 4 brands).

And timing load is meaningless

Well, there must be some meaning behind the Class 323 timing load (rather than 350, or even just electric multiple unit?)

 

[Johnhayworth21]

I know - that's because West Midlands Trains is the Train Operating Company (TOC) of both of those brands (although that's not consistent with Realtime Trains splitting Govia Thameslink Railway into its 4 brands).


Well, there must be some meaning behind the Class 323 timing load (rather than 350, or even just electric multiple unit?)

That is not relevant to this thread.

 

[AndrewE]

Well, there must be some meaning behind the Class 323 timing load (rather than 350, or even just electric multiple unit?)

That is not relevant to this thread.

It isn't far from the topic at all. My guess is that the 323s could have a slightly slower timing than a 350, so there is a template there to be used with minimal work - and if it is a slightly slower timing then that is all to the good as you would expect drivers on route-learning to accelerating and braking more cautiously and going a bit slower overall than the units are actually capable of.