Trains, Planes & Automobiles.
I am a big fan of rail - use it every day locally, but the trouble with rail access to MAN from Wales is that it's The Long Way Round via Piccadilly. Journey times aren't competitive against the M56. I have some sympathy with Network Rail on this, train paths on the Airport line are limited by it being a dead end and 'a branch off a branch' as one railwayman put it. The paths need to be used where they bring most benefit. With the Northern Hub Piccadilly will work better as an interchange, and whilst it is undoubtedly nicer to have the train take you and your luggage direct to the airport it shouldn't be a great burden to hop off at Piccadilly and get on a frequent train to the airport. Better and more frequent access to the airport from or via Crewe should be a priority for paths into the airport now, with at least an hourly no-stop or limited stop service in addition to the hourly stopper. Sorry, trains again.