A new direct rail service linking Birmingham with Manchester Airport is set to launch next year, giving passengers from the West Midlands a direct route to the airport.

London Northwestern Railway (LNR) has announced that the hourly service will begin running to Manchester Airport from May 2027, calling at stations across the Black Country, Staffordshire and Cheshire.

At present, passengers travelling from the West Midlands to Manchester Airport must change trains at Crewe, Wilmslow or travel via Manchester city centre.

The route will be introduced in two phases.

From 13 December 2026, a new service will operate between Birmingham New Street and Crewe, serving 12 stations including the recently opened Willenhall and Darlaston stations.

The route will then be extended to Manchester Airport in May 2027, with additional stops at Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Wilmslow and Styal.

Manchester Airport is the UK's third busiest airport and serves more than 200 destinations across four continents.

Denise Wetton, integrated managing director for GBR West Midlands and LNR managing director, said the new route would provide "direct connectivity to Manchester Airport from the West Midlands for the first time in decades".

Download our Nub News App!

- It’s FREE and available now
- Breaking news notifications
- Your Town in Your Pocket

She added: "This new route will deliver extra services for our existing customers across Birmingham, the Black Country and Staffordshire, providing more choice for when you travel."

Manchester Airport managing director Chris Woodroofe said the service would benefit millions of passengers from the West Midlands and Staffordshire who use the airport each year.

He said: "This service will create the first direct rail link between the West Midlands and Manchester Airport for decades and open up more options for people to reach us by public transport."

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker welcomed the announcement, saying it would improve connectivity between the West Midlands and Greater Manchester while also providing additional services for passengers using the new stations at Willenhall and Darlaston.

The announcement follows LNR's move into public ownership in February 2026 as part of WM Trains Limited.