The 16159 / 16160 Chennai Egmore–Mangaluru Central Express is an express train belonging to the Southern Railway zone that runs between the city Chennai Egmore of Tamil Nadu and Mangaluru Central of Karnataka in India.
Overview
This train was introduced during the 2003–2004 Railway Budget as a new daily train between Chennai Egmore and Erode via Tiruchirappalli Junction in Tamil Nadu, India. Later in the 2005–2006 Railway Budget, the train (No.66076608) was extended up to Coimbatore, citing large number of Melmaruvathur bound pilgrims, leaving the people of Karur in despair, who were largely benefitted of this train fearing decrease in reservation quotas. The train was again extended to Mangaluru in 2007, a move which forced the authorities to cancel the Tiruchirapalli–Mangaluru Express (No.68676868), with revised timings. The number of train was changed from the initial 66076608 to 61076108, and from 61076108 to 1610716108 since December 2010 onwards as a part of train management system over the entire Indian Railways network. Again, the number of the train was changed to 16159 16160. From 9 September 2024, this train is short terminated at Tambaram and now running as Tambaram–Mangaluru Central-Tambaram Express. From 9 September 2024, this train was short-terminated at Tambaram and operated as the Tambaram–Mangaluru Central–Tambaram Express due to operational adjustments in the Salem division. Subsequently, effective from 18 September 2025, the train was re-extended to Chennai Egmore, restoring its original terminal. With this extension, it is now officially running as the Mangalore Express between Chennai Egmore and Mangaluru Central, bearing train numbers 16159/16160, thereby improving long-distance connectivity between Tamil Nadu and coastal Karnataka.
Routes and halts The Important Halts of the train are :
● Chennai Egmore
● Tambaram
● Chengalpattu Junction
● Villuppuram Junction
● Tiruchchirappalli Junction
● Karur Junction
● Erode Junction
● Coimbatore Junction
● Palakkad Junction
● Shoranur Junction
● Kozhikode
● Kannur
● Kasargod
● Mangaluru Central
Rakes The train has 20 Compressing Three AC 3-Tier (3A), Eleven Second Class Sleepers, Two Second Seating (2S), Two General compartments (Unreserved) and Two Luggage rakes.
Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 SLRDURS11S10S9S8S7S6S5S4S3S2S1B3B2B1D2D1URSLRD
Schedule Some of the prominent stoppages include , , , , , , , , . This daily express train departs as Train No.16159, arrives at the next morning, reverses the loco and leaves for and arrives the destination after dusk of same day. On the return journey, the train departs as Train No.16160 just after dawn, arrives same night, reverses the loco and leaves for , and arrives the destination next morning.
• 16159 - 11:10 PM (Daily) [Chennai Egmore]
• 16160 - 6:45 AM (Daily) [Mangaluru Central]
Accident On 04 September 2015, 5 coaches including 3 AC coaches and an Unreserved coach along with SLR of 16859 Chennai Egmore - Mangalore Express (Then terminated at Chennai Egmore with Number 16859) derailed near Puvanur railway station, Villupuram - Vridhachalam section of Chord line. 39 passengers were reported injured.
See also Mangalore Mail Mangala Lakshadweep Express Pearl City (Muthunagar) Superfast Express Nellai Superfast Express Kanniyakumari Superfast Express Pothigai Superfast Express Pandian Superfast Express
Notes
References
External links Southern Railway - Official Website