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Direct link from Staffordshire to Manchester Airport on way

Trains could run from Staffordshire direct to Manchester Airport under plans to boost transport links in the county.

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Pople travelling from Birmingham to London have been made to pay the most since 2010, a study has shown.

Bosses want services to go straight to the airport station, as currently passengers have to change at Manchester Piccadilly.

One of the ideas is extending London Midland routes that run through Stafford and terminate at Crewe.

Manchester Airport is seen as the main facility for Staffordshire residents rather than Birmingham. And council chiefs want to make it easier for people to get there.

They say it would improve business links and boost the county's economy.

The idea is one of five aims that the council has set out to improve transport, though exact costs and timescales have not been drawn up.

A report by the council states: "Good connectivity to airports is key for Staffordshire's economic wellbeing and hence forms one of the five objectives. Access to Manchester Airport from Staffordshire is currently relatively poor, with no direct services.

"The county council, along with other local authorities and partners, have been investigating various possibilities for the provision of a direct service to be provided from Staffordshire. This is also a key aim of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

"It is also regularly cited by the Chamber of Commerce as being an issue for business.

"Possible options include the extension of services currently operated by both East Midlands Trains and London Midland which currently terminate at Crewe."

The report adds: "The council will continue to support the rail industry regarding improvements to the rail network to enable services to be improved in the future regardless of whether HS2 is built.

"The council, therefore, supports the improvements, some of which are located entirely outside of Staffordshire, as they will bring potential benefits to the county in the future."

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