Matsyagandha Express Which is The First Direct Train to Mumbai All Set to Celebrate Its Silver Jubilee

The Matsyagandha Express which is the first direct train to Mumbai introduced the train travel concept for most of coastal Karnataka is gearing up to celebrate its Silver Jubilee. Train No. 12619/620 Mumbai Lokamanya Tilak Terminus-Mangalore Central-Mumbai LTT Matsyagandha Express was flagged off on May 1, 1998, when then Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and Railway Minister George Fernandes dedicated Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., to the nation. It was the first passenger service train to run on the completed KRCL network of 741 km between Roha and Thokur near Mangalore.

The Matsyagandha express covers nearly 900 km total within about 17 hours. While thousands of coastal Karnataka people were settled in Mumbai doing a host of business activities, they had to endure nearly 30 hours of a bus journey. As an alternative, they had to go to Kadur Railway Station in Chikkamagaluru district to board a Mumbai-bound train that entailed nearly 40 hours of journey. Matsyagandha express strengthened the bond between Mumbai and Karnataka Coast.