Direct trains between Stone and Birmingham are set to return from December 2026, with the service then due to be extended to Manchester Airport in May 2027.
The change will see the existing London Northwestern Railway Crewe, Stoke on Trent and Stafford service extended south to Birmingham New Street from December.
For Stone passengers, that means the return of direct trains to Wolverhampton and Birmingham without the need to change at Stafford.
The service will call at Birmingham New Street, Tame Bridge Parkway, Darlaston, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stone, Stoke on Trent, Longport, Kidsgrove, Alsager and Crewe in both directions.
A second phase is then planned for May 2027, when the service will be extended north from Crewe to Manchester Airport.
From then, trains will also call at Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Wilmslow and Styal before reaching the airport.
The operator says the extended service will also provide later evening trains between Crewe and Manchester Airport, improve Sunday frequencies on that part of the route and add an extra train each hour between Stafford and Birmingham.
Exact departure and journey times have not yet been published.
Final timetables for the December changes are expected to appear in journey planners later in September, while timings for the Manchester Airport extension are due to be published in February 2027.
Tickets are expected to go on sale around 12 weeks before travel.
2 comments
Dave
Really positive news. I stopped using Stone station to get to Birmingham because of having to change at Stafford.
Mike
This is amazing news! I wont have to go into Manchester / Crewe when flying. So happy about this change!