Mangalore is a major port city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is situated at a distance of 350 Km from the capital of Karnataka, Bangalore. Due to being a port city, it is also a major economic centre and handles a large part of import and export through seaways. Due to such vast business and economic activities, the Mangalore needs a good infrastructure and connectivity to other parts of the country. The Indian Railways serve as the basic transportation of goods and people of Mangalore.
The Mangalore city has two main stations named Mangalore Central and Mangalore Junction.
Mangalore Central Railway Station –
Mangalore Central Railway Station or MQA is one of the major railway stations in Mangalore city, which was built in 1907 and has an elevation 14 metres from sea level. It is located in Hampankatta and comes under Palakkad division of Southern Railways and is an A grade station of the division. There are numerous trains passing or halting at this station connecting this city to the rest of the country. The cities for which there are direct trains from Mangalore include Mumbai, Bangalore and Thiruvananthapuram.
At first, a metre gauge track was laid between the Western Ghats, which connected Hassan to Mangalore. The station was not upgraded to broad gauge until the year 2006. In the year 2006, after the completion of up-gradation, the line from Mangalore to Hassan via Bangalore was opened for freight transportation. The line for passenger traffic was opened in the year 2007.
The station has three platforms connected through foot over bridge. It has a computerised ticket booking office and a reservation centre.
Major trains that originate or halt at Mangalore are;
- Mangalore Central-Thiruvananthapuram Central Mangalore Express
- Nagercoil-Thiruvananthapuram Central Parasuram Express
- Mangalore central-Jammu Tawi, Navyug Express
- Yasvantpur-Mangalore central Yasvantpur express
- Karwar express
- Kozhikode Mangalore central Passenger
- Karbakputtur- Mangalore Central Passenger
Mangalore Junction Railway Station –
Mangalore junction or MAJN is another important railway station of Mangalore city and acts as a gateway for the city. The station has an elevation of 24 metres above sea level and is situated at Kankanadi controlled by the Palakkad Division of Indian Railways Southern Railway Zone.
This railway station acts as a junction that interconnects lines coming from Kerala from south direction, Maharashtra from north direction, and Bangalore from east direction. It is one of the busiest railway stations in this region and all the trains going in north or south direction pass this station.
Major lines that pass through this station are;
- Ernakulam Junction-Mangalore Junction
- Mangalore Central-Mangalore Junction
- Bangalore City- Mangalore Junction
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus-Mangalore Junction
Being the first station of Southern Railway Zone and Konkan Railway Zone ends here, this is the station where almost every train halts for various tasks like water refilling, changing of TTEs, etc.
The Mangalore Junction has a good connectivity with the nearest Mangalore international airport, which is 11 km from here. The new Mangalore port is the nearest seaport at a distance of 14 km from here and the distance of Mangalore central from here is 6 km. A good connectivity to all of these makes this station a prime mode of transportation for goods and people of Mangalore.
The station has three platforms, refreshment stalls, computerised ticket booking office (Both reserved and unreserved). Paid parking for more than 1000 vehicles at a time is also available at this station. Due to its prime location, it is one of the most important stations and a major stoppage for numerous trains coming to this region.
These are two major railway stations of Mangalore serving the people and emerging economy of the city.
Trains Passing through Mangalore Railway Station –
| Train No. | Train Name | Arr. Time | Dep. Time |
| 12601 | Chennai Mangalore Mail(MAS-MAQ) | 12:20 | destination |
| 12602 | Chennai Mail(MAQ-MAS) | origin | 13:15 |
| 12619 | Matsyagandha Express(LTT-MAQ) | 10:25 | destination |
| 12620 | Matsyagandha Express(MAQ-LTT) | origin | 12:50 |
| 12653 | Trichy Mangalore SF (TPJ-MAQ) | 05:20 | destination |
| 12654 | Mangalore Trichy SF (MAQ-TPJ) | origin | 20:45 |
| 12685 | Chennai – Mangalore Express(MAS-MAQ) | 08:30 | destination |
| 12686 | Mangalore – Chennai Express(MAQ-MAS) | origin | 16:15 |
| 16043 | Puducherry-Mangalore Weekly Express(PDY-MAQ) | 09:05 | destination |
| 16107 | Chennai Egmore-Mangalore Express(MS-MAQ) | 21:50 | destination |
| 16108 | Chennai Egmore Express(MAQ-MS) | origin | 06:50 |
| 16347 | Trivandrum Mangalore Express(TVC-MAQ) | 10:55 | destination |
| 16348 | Trivandrum Express(MAQ-TVC) | origin | 14:20 |
| 16517 | Yeshvantapur-Kannur Express(YPR-CAN) | 08:40 | 09:00 |
| 16518 | Kannur-Yesvantpur Express(CAN-YPR) | 18:55 | 20:55 |
| 16603 | Maveli Express(MAQ-TVC) | origin | 17:45 |
| 16604 | Maveli Express(TVC-MAQ) | 08:00 | destination |
| 16605 | Eranad Express(MAQ-NCJ) | origin | 07:20 |
| 16606 | Eranad Express(NCJ-MAQ) | 17:20 | destination |
| 16627 | West Coast Express(MAS-MAQ) | 04:20 | destination |
| 16628 | West Coast Express(MAQ-MAS) | origin | 22:00 |
| 16629 | Malabar Express(TVC-MAQ) | 10:05 | destination |
| 16630 | Malabar Express(MAQ-TVC) | origin | 18:20 |
| 16649 | Parasuram Express(MAQ-TVC) | origin | 04:50 |
| 16650 | Parasuram Express(TVC-MAQ) | 20:30 | destination |
| 16687 | Navyug Express(MAQ-JAT) | origin | 16:50 |
| 16688 | Navyug Express(JAT-MAQ) | 18:10 | destination |
| 16855 | Puducherry-Mangalore Weekly Express(PDY-MAQ) | 09:50 | destination |
| 16856 | MAQ PDY EXPRESS(MAQ-PDY) | origin | 16:50 |
| 16859 | MS MANGALORE EX | 21:50 | destination |
| 17606 | KCG MAQ EXP | 11:20 | destination |
| 22609 | INTERCITY EXPRESS(MAQ-CBE) | origin | 11:45 |
| 22610 | INTERCITY EXPRESS(CBE-MAQ) | 13:40 | destination |
| 22851 | MAQ VIVEK EXPRESS(SRC-MAQ) | 09:50 | destination |
| 22852 | SRC VIVEK EXPRESS(MAQ-SRC) | origin | 22:45 |