First TransPennine Express (TPE) is expanding its network to provide 14 daily services between Scotland and Manchester.
As part of the changes to the cross country rail franchise four trains a day will run from Edinburgh to Manchester and three from Glasgow Central, opening up opportunities with direct links into the airport, which has its own station.
”This will provide local people and businesses with quick and convenient access to our network of 225 worldwide destinations,” said Manchester Airport planning and infrastructure director, John Twigg.
Journey times from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Manchester will be around four hours, with Edinburgh trains making stops at Carlisle and Penrith in addition to TPE”s usual calling points south of Oxenholme. Glasgow services will also call at Lockerbie.
Twigg added: ”This is further proof of the success of the TPE in meeting the needs of air passengers, with nearly three million travellers a year now using our state of the art transport interchange, and so helping to reduce road congestion and emissions.”