Banbury was once a junction for the line to , however that closed in the 1960s. There was also another station nearby at . Banbury Bridge Street station occupied one of the most strategic and important locations in the entire rail network in Britain. For example, the Aberdeen to Penzance Express used the branch of the GCR through Banbury as part of its journey and the ""Ports to Ports Express"" between the North-East (Newcastle, "etc.") and South Wales (Cardiff, ) used the Great Central Railway branch line and the Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway, and passed through Banbury as well as Newcastle — , Newcastle — Southampton, — Sleeper, Bournemouth — /, "etc." Most Cross Country Services in Britain passed through Banbury, which helped the growth of the town and its cattle market.