Mangaluru’s railway administration shifts from Southern to South Western zone

Mangaluru’s railway region came under South Western Railway’s Mysuru Division on October 1, ending its administrative association with Southern Railway’s Palakkad Division. The Dakshina Kannada District Rail Users, an online forum of railway patrons, marked the change by recalling Southern Railway’s longstanding connection with the coastal city. The forum said criticism of shortcomings did not erase the history of the relationship.

It said Southern Railway and the Palakkad Division had contributed to Mangaluru’s infrastructure, freight operations, passenger connectivity and train services. The forum thanked railway officers, engineers, technicians, loco pilots, station staff, track maintainers and other employees who served the city. According to the forum, Southern Railway helped develop Mangaluru Central as a major terminal and coaching centre, while Mangaluru Junction became an important railway junction.

Facilities at Mangaluru Central included coaching, stabling, pit-line and carriage-maintenance infrastructure. The forum also credited the railway with platform and terminal infrastructure, operational assets and progressive doubling and electrification of the Mangaluru-Shoranur corridor. Connectivity and sidings to New Mangalore Port and major industries were also included among the developments it recalled.

The association was also reflected in several train services, including the Mangaluru Central-MGR Chennai Central Mail, Maveli Express, Malabar Express, Parasuram Express and Matsyagandha Express. The forum additionally recalled the evolution of the Mangala service into the Mangala Lakshadweep Express, which operates between Ernakulam and Hazrat Nizamuddin. Southern Railway also operated Vande Bharat services between Mangaluru Central and Madgaon and between Mangaluru Central and Thiruvananthapuram Central.