The line was finally opened in three stages:
Derby to Nottingham 4 June 1839
Trent Junction to Leicester 4 May 1840
Leicester to Rugby 1 July 1840
On 4 June 1839 the company provided four trains at Nottingham for passenger services on opening day.
The first two with six coaches, and the others with two coaches each.
Each train was headed by a separate engine, Ariel, Mersey, Hawk and Sunbeam.
The brass band of the 5th Dragoon Guards entertained the passengers, and played God Save the Queen as each train departed.
The first train headed by Sunbeam with four first class and two second class carriages departed for Derby at 12:30 pm.
Five minutes later Ariel was attached to a train and departed for Derby.
Ariel arrived at Long Eaton at 12:48 pm, and Derby by 1:19 pm.
After a wait in Derby of just over an hour, the trains returned to Nottingham, where the band of the Dragoons struck up See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes.

One notable event was the first large organised excursion by rail, got up by the Nottingham Mechanics' Institute.
A week later the Leicester Mechanics' Institute returned the compliment to Nottingham.
After Thomas Cook began the tourist business, the MCR began organising excursions on its own account, on one occasion conveying some 2,400 people in a single train of 65 four-wheeled carriages and wagons.
The fact that MCR's locomotives were all either single driving-wheeled or 0-4-0s, and small at that meant that the heavier the train, the more were added.
The excursion must have been a sight to behold.
The line was finally opened in three stages:
Derby to Nottingham 4 June 1839
Trent Junction to Leicester 4 May 1840
Leicester to Rugby 1 July 1840
On 4 June 1839 the company provided four trains at Nottingham for passenger services on opening day. The first two with six coaches, and the others with two coaches each. Each train was headed by a separate engine, Ariel, Mersey, Hawk and Sunbeam. The brass band of the 5th Dragoon Guards entertained the passengers, and played God Save the Queen as each train departed. The first train headed by Sunbeam with four first class and two second class carriages departed for Derby at 12:30 pm. Five minutes later Ariel was attached to a train and departed for Derby. Ariel arrived at Long Eaton at 12:48 pm, and Derby by 1:19 pm. After a wait in Derby of just over an hour, the trains returned to Nottingham, where the band of the Dragoons struck up See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes.
One notable event was the first large organised excursion by rail, got up by the Nottingham Mechanics' Institute. A week later the Leicester Mechanics' Institute returned the compliment to Nottingham. After Thomas Cook began the tourist business, the MCR began organising excursions on its own account, on one occasion conveying some 2,400 people in a single train of 65 four-wheeled carriages and wagons. The fact that MCR's locomotives were all either single driving-wheeled or 0-4-0s, and small at that meant that the heavier the train, the more were added. The excursion must have been a sight to behold.
Midland Counties Railway