Avanti West Coast operate inter-city services between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly, via the Colwich spur.

Some services between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly travel along the Stone to Colwich line, thereby by-passing Stafford.

Local services between Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent, calling at Stone, are operated by West Midlands Trains; they are branded London Northwestern Railway.

The LNWR had its own station at Macclesfield Hibel Road, which was closed by British Rail in 1960.

The line was electrified at 25 kV AC, using overhead wires under the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan.