Matsyagandha Express


The 12619 / 12620 Matsyagandha Express is a Daily Superfast Express train running between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Maharashtra and Mangaluru Central In Karnataka. It is also called Lifeline of the Mangaluru.
The train was introduced on 1 May 1998 as Mangalore-Kurla Express. The Matsyagandha Express travels through some of the very difficult terrains of India. Matsyagandha Express travelling from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mumbai to Mangaluru Central became first train to take Roha-Veer double line on Konkan railway route on 30 August 2021 at 7.30p.m. It is the best train to travel daily from Mumbai to Mangaluru in 16.5 hours. The Mangaluru Central Lokamanya Tilak Mangaluru Central Matsyagandha Superfast Express runs with brand new LHB Coaches from 18/02/2025 from Lokamanya Tilak Terminus Mumbai and LHB from Mangaluru Central in 17/02/2025.

History

The Matsyagandha Express was named by Mr. Ramchandra Sawalekar, a gazetted officer in the Indian Navy. Matsyagandha literally means "Fragnance of Fish" - the appellation was given since the train runs along the fishing coast of Western India adjoining the Arabian Sea–Konkan Railway route. The name is based on a character from the epic Mahabharata, Satyavati who was dubbed the moniker of Matsyagandha due to the fragrance of fish that emanated from her. Matsyagandha is also a famous Marathi musical play written by Vasant Kanetkar. The train has become important link and emotional chord for natives of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts living in Mumbai and surrounding cities.

Locomotion

As the entire route is electrified, a Royapuram Loco Shed or Erode Loco Shed based WAP-7 electric locomotive hauls the train from end-to-end.

Route and halts

  • Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak
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    Arrival and departure

12619 Matsyagandha Express departs Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mumbai at 15:20 and reaches Mangaluru Central at 7.30 a.m. the next day, while 12620 Matsyagandha Express departs Mangaluru Centralrailway station at 14.35 and reaches Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mumbai at 6:35 the next day. However, during monsoon the train has different time table. The monsoon time table of Konkan railway Corporation Limited is generally from 15 June to 30 September of every year.

Coach composition

The train was upgraded to modern LHB rake on February 18, 2025, with an MPS of 145 kmph. The train consists of 24 coaches:
  • 1 AC II Tier coach
  • 4 AC III Tier coaches
  • 2 AC III Tier Economy coaches
  • 9 Sleeper coaches
  • 4 Sitting coaches
  • 2 General coaches
  • 1 General coach Divyangjan Friendly
  • 1 Generator cars
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This service had a major incident on 16 June 2004, known as the Karanjadi train crash. A train derailed and fell off a bridge after colliding with boulders on the tracks, killing 20 people near Karanjadi station.