Rugby Central was roughly midway along the Great Central Main Line (GCML) and was a stopping point for express services, as well as a changeover point for local services. Until the early 1960s, the station was served by about six London – Manchester expresses daily, and was the terminus for local services from or to the south, and Leicester Central or Nottingham Victoria from the north. The line was then downgraded, with express services being removed, leaving only the local services and an infrequent semi-fast service to London.