There’s nothing like the buzz of setting off to the airport to get your holiday started. Yes, it can be a little stressful, but then there’s all the excitement of the adventure ahead – and you can you have a pint literally any time of day or night in an airport ’Spoons. Them’s the rules.
In fact, the only real issue is that if you’re catching a particularly early or late flight, you might have to fork out for a taxi. Luckily, the people of Manchester are about to have even that little kink ironed out. That’s because TransPennine Express (TPE) is set to run services every hour between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport.
The last train to and from the airport usually stops running at around midnight. The welcome shift is all part of a timetable shake-up across the service, with a total of eight trains running to the airport through the night. It’ll kick in on May 17.
TPE customer experience and transformation director Andrew McClements said: ‘While the majority of our services remain the same, we’d encourage customers to double-check any regular journeys they make. We’re pleased to be introducing services that give customers more choice, added flexibility, and an improved overall experience when travelling with us.’
The key changes being made to the TransPennine Express timetable from May 17 2026
- Manchester Piccadilly-Manchester Airport: new hourly overnight service
- Scarborough and Seamer: services to leave a minute earlier, plus some Sunday trains extended to six coaches
- Cleethorpes-Manchester Airport: minor changes to timings
- York-Huddersfield-Manchester: minor changes made to early services on Sunday. These include an extra train via Slaithwaite, Marsden, Greenfield and Mossley.
- Heaton Lodge Junction–Stalybridge and via Micklefield: engineering works to result in regular midweek diversions and replacement buses. You’re advised to check journeys after 10.30pm.
Eagle-eyed readers will have spotted that that increased service to Edinburgh coincides with the Fringe festival, which is exactly the point: two extra daily services will help northerners get their jollies throughout the event. In addition to this, there’ll be an 8.05am weekday service between Leeds and Manchester Piccadilly, meaning two great northern cities will be even more connected than before.
The changes might mean some disruption in the short-term, but it’s good news that reaching the UK’s third biggest airport has got a little bit easier. Just make sure you leave yourself enough time for that pint.
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