Mangaluru’s Railway Jurisdiction Shifts From Southern To South Western Railway

Mangaluru began a new chapter in its railway association on October 1, moving from Southern Railway (SR) to South Western Railway (SWR). The transition prompted the Dakshina Kannada District Rail Users, an online forum of railway patrons, to recall the infrastructure, services and memories built during the coastal city’s long association with SR.

A farewell shaped by criticism and gratitude

The forum said its relationship with Southern Railway included both demands for improvement and appreciation of the work done over the decades. “We have demanded more. We have criticised shortcomings. We have fought for Mangaluru whenever we felt it deserved better,” it said.

The forum added that criticism did not erase history. It said Southern Railway and the Palakkad Division had been an important part of Mangaluru’s railway story since the formation of Southern Railway in 1951 and the subsequent establishment of the division.

According to the forum, that story covered infrastructure and freight, iconic trains, passenger connectivity and the modern Vande Bharat services. It thanked every railway officer, engineer, technician, loco pilot, station staff member, track maintainer and other railway employee who had served Mangaluru and become part of the city’s railway history.

“As a new chapter begins, we carry forward the infrastructure, services, memories and legacy of this long association,” the forum said.

Infrastructure built over the decades

The forum said Southern Railway contributed to the development of Mangaluru Central as a major terminal and coaching centre. It also described Mangaluru Junction as an important railway junction developed during the association.

At Mangaluru Central, SR provided coaching, stabling, pit-line and carriage maintenance facilities, along with platform and terminal infrastructure and other operational assets. These facilities formed part of the operational base associated with the city’s railway services.

The forum also pointed to the progressive doubling and electrification of the Mangaluru-Shoranur corridor. Railway connectivity and sidings to New Mangalore Port and major industries were also developed, according to the forum.

Trains that defined the association

The forum said SR’s association with Mangaluru would also be remembered through several iconic trains. These included the Mangaluru Central-MGR Chennai Central Mail, Mangaluru Central-Thiruvananthapuram Central Maveli and Malabar Express, Mangaluru Central-Kanniyakumari Parasuram Express, and Mangaluru Central-Mumbai LTT Matsyagandha Express.

Mangala Express originally operated from Mangaluru Central before it was extended to Ernakulam Junction. It subsequently evolved into today’s Mangala Lakshadweep Express, which operates between Ernakulam and Hazrath Nizamuddin.

SR also operated Vande Bharat Express services between Mangaluru Central and Madgaon, and between Mangaluru Central and Thiruvananthapuram Central. For the forum, the move to SWR therefore marked an administrative transition while leaving behind a railway legacy built through infrastructure, operations, trains and the work of railway employees.

Source: The Hindu