Trains

All rail services operating in this area are provided commercially by train operating companies.

There are three rail stations in the city: Longport, Longton and Stoke-on-Trent.

The main intercity services operate from Stoke-on-Trent station. They are operated by Virgin Trains www.virgintrains.co.uk and Cross Country Trains www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk.

Some examples of destinations and journey times:

• Stoke - Birmingham New Street: every 30 minutes (approximately 55 minutes journey time).
• Stoke - Manchester Piccadilly: every 15 minutes (approximately 40 minutes journey time). 
• Stoke - London Euston: every 30 minutes (approximately 90 minutes journey time).
• Stoke - Oxford: every 45 minutes (approximately 2 hours journey time). 

There is also a limited local service to Manchester from Stoke-on-Trent station, operated by Northern www.northernrail.co.uk. This stops at a number of stations including Longport.

East Midlands Trains www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk operates an hourly service from Crewe to Derby. This service calls at all stations on this route including Kidsgrove, Longport, Stoke-on-Trent, Longton, Blythe Bridge and Uttoxeter.

You can use this service to connect to Manchester Airport from Crewe station. It also connects you to Nottingham city centre (change at Derby) and Nottingham East Midlands Airport via a shuttle bus service from Derby station.

For a copy of the line guide and timetable for this service contact the North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership on 01782 232272.

At the moment, the local service between Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford is a bus replacement service. The X1 service runs hourly and calls at Wedgwood, Barlaston and Stone, as well as Trentham Gardens and the city centre. Through rail tickets are valid on this service.

We continue to work with all the train operating companies to make sure they:

• provide the best possible service;
• meet the needs of local residents; and
• promote rail travel locally.

More information

You can get information on all UK rail services from:

The National Rail Enquiry Line - 08457 48 49 50 or visit the www.nationalrail.co.uk.

For detailed journey planning, including train, bus and coach services visit www.traveline.info or call 0871 200 22 33.

PlusBus

If you are travelling to Stoke-on-Trent by train and wish to continue your journey by bus, try PlusBus. PlusBus is an integrated train and bus ticket that allows free travel on most bus services in North Staffordshire for a small supplement to your normal rail fare. You can buy PlusBus tickets from stations taking part. For more information visit www.plusbus.info.