Mumbai to Goa by Train: Step by Step Travel Guide

Are you traveling to India for your yoga training in Goa with a fun-filled and adventurous yogic experience? If yes, then you are at the right place to get a hold of how to go about exploring along the way from Mumbai to Goa.
mumbai goa train cst
A popular and most adventurous way of traveling from Mumbai to Goa is the trains from Mumbai to Goa, which is convenient, economical and can be as quick as an overnight journey with plush seating arrangements. Not only this, but you can also behold the sight of one of the most spectacular sceneries, waterfalls, and bounties of nature.

If you have been in Mumbai or planning to visit Mumbai en route your journey to Goa, you will realize that trains are the lifeline of the city to travel from point A to B. You can simply search for trains as well as buy tickets online or at the reservation counter, and you are good to go. The same applies to the Mumbai to Goa Trains. You can not only save time, money, and hassles but also enjoy a convenient and exhilarating experience amidst nature along the way.

So, if you have made up your mind to hop on to some adventure along the way of your Yoga training trip, here is a step-by-step guide with an outline and detailed information to make that happen:

Step 1 – Mumbai at a Glance

Here are a few critical facts about Mumbai, important things to remember, and train stations in Mumbai where you can board trains to Goa:

  • One of the main railway stations among the many in Mumbai is Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (previously called Victoria Terminus) with a station code of CST. This station is situated in the Fort area of South Mumbai. Many Mumbai to Goa trains departs from CST station in Mumbai.

The best way to reach CST is to either use the local train, take a ride-hailing service like Uber or catch a signature black-and-yellow cab that is omnipresent in South Mumbai. The most efficient way depends on how far you stay from the CST station. If you are nearby, an Uber or a cab will be quicker. If you plan to travel more considerable distances, then a local train ( of the central railway line) is the cheapest and fastest way to reach the local CST station directly. You can then change the platform to reach your intended boarding point.

  • A few trains from Mumbai to Goa also depart from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, which is a train station in the North-East Mumbai suburb of Kurla. The station code of Lokmanya Tilak Terminus is LTT.

You can reach Lokmanya Tilak Terminus using a ride-hailing service like Uber to reach the station directly. If you prefer to use the local train (of the central railway line) to reach LTT, you can disembark at Kurla Station and then take a cab to reach LTT, which is 2 km away from Kurla station.

  • An important thing to take note of and follow while boarding the Mumbai Goa train from any of the above boarding points is to always travel with a booked and valid ticket. There are many classes of travel available on every train. It is advisable to stay away from the General Class, as this class has no designated or reserved seat associated with it.
  • Also, to ensure safe travel while traveling in a cab, local train or the Mumbai to Goa train, you must be vigilant and use maps to ensure your cab driver does not deviate from the right path. During train travel, make sure to raise the alarm for any suspicious or untoward behavior of fellow passengers.
  • If you are traveling solo, it is also advisable to take note of the phone number of a nearby police station to ensure that an SOS call can be made upon an emergency. If you have a friend who can be of help during distress, make sure to have his or her number on speed dial. You can also dial the police control room number 100 from your mobile phone.
  • For situations where quick action is needed, you can also consider keeping handy a self-defense product like Pepper Spray or a Taser to ensure you can immobilize the threat immediately and then get time to take the necessary action by calling the Police.

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Step 2 – Goa at a Glance

Here are a few facts about stations where you can de-board upon completion of your Mumbai to Goa train journey:

  • Madgaon (also known as Margao), with a station code of MAO, is the major railway station in Goa. MAO station is located in South Goa. If you want to explore the pristine beaches of South Goa along with the air of tranquility, then Madgaon is the best place to de-board your train. Most express trains arriving at Goa have a halt at MAO station.
  • If you plan to visit North Goan beaches directly, you can travel on trains that stop at Thivim railway station. The station code of Thivim is THVM.
  • Karmali railway station – with station code KRMI – is another station situated in North Goa. This station is closest to Panaji (or Panjim), which is the capital city of Goa. If you plan to visit North Goan beaches or plan a quick trip to Panaji, then KRMI station is your best bet.

Step 3 – List of Mumbai to Goa Trains

Trains from Mumbai to Goa operate daily, with some running on alternate days or selected days of the week. Many trains, including express, superfast, and passenger category of trains, operate on this route. You can book train tickets for yourself in different classes, depending on your needs and budget. Mumbai Goa trains have the following classes for travel:

trains from mumbai to goa
  • 1A (First AC)
  • 2A (Second AC)
  • 3A (Three-tier AC)
  • EC (Executive Chair Car with AC)
  • CC (Chair Car with AC)
  • SL (Three tier Sleeper without AC)
  • 2S (Second Seating without AC)

The above list is in decreasing order of cost with First AC (1A) being the most expensive and comfortable, and 2S being the cheapest option to travel among them. All the above classes have the option of booking a confirmed seat for its passengers.

As advised earlier, there is another class of travel called General Class, which does not offer the facility of booking a confirmed seat. It is, therefore, prudent to avoid traveling in the General Class compartment of the Mumbai Goa train.

The following is a list of the best and fastest trains for traveling from Mumbai to Goa:

Tejas Express

The 22119 Tejas Express runs from Mumbai CST railway station to Karmali railway station, three days a week. The train – completing the trip in just over 10 hours – departs from CST station at 5:50 am on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and reaches Karmali station at 4:10 pm on the same day. If you are an early riser, then this can be an excellent train to board, thereby also giving you a chance to enjoy the scenic beauty along the way. Some great features in this train include tea and coffee vending machines, LCD TVs, bio-vacuum toilets, and a GPS-based information display system.

Konkan Kanya Express:

If you would like to experience an overnight journey while relaxing in a deep sleep, then the 10111 Konkan Kanya Express is the most time-saving train between Mumbai and Goa. It departs from CST station in Mumbai at 11:05 pm in the night and reaches Madgaon station in Goa at 12:10 pm the next day. This train runs every day of the week and also stops at Karmali railway station (KRMI) before ending its journey at MAO station.

Mandovi Express:

Another train that needs a full day of travel from Mumbai to Goa is the 10103 Mandovi Express. This train, running on all days of the week, starts from CST station in Mumbai and ends at Madgaon (MAO) station in Goa. The departure time from CST is 7:10 am, and the train runs for 14 hours to reach Madgaon at 9:10 pm. This train consumes more time than others, but it is a good option if you have spare time at hand and want to enjoy the scenic hills and waterfalls along the way.

Other Trains:

Other trains running on the Mumbai Goa route include 12133 Mangalore Express for an overnight journey and 12051 Jan Shatabdi Express from Dadar (DR) station for an early morning departure time.

Step 4 – Getting more information and Booking your tickets

Getting information about the timetable of trains running between Mumbai and Goa is fairly easy. You can simply visit online websites like indiarailinfo.com and indianrail.gov.in and type in the source station (for example, CST in Mumbai) and the destination station (MAO in Goa). Upon hitting these details, you will swiftly get a list of all trains that run between these two stations. A sample query can be seen on this link.

Booking your train tickets has also become hassle-free of late, thanks to technological advancements in the Indian Railways’ online platform. You can quickly punch in the date of journey, source, and the destination station, along with the class of travel (1A, 2A, 3A, EC, CC, or SL) and then enter the portal to book tickets.

Tickets can be booked in the Advance Reservation Period, which is 120 days (excluding the date of journey). Thus, booking of tickets starts 120 days before the journey date from the originating train station. You can use the following platform to book train tickets.

The Bottom Line

To summarize, there are a lot of options for traveling on a Mumbai to Goa train if you have the will for an adventure and the patience to enjoy your journey. However, it should be noted that trains from Mumbai to Goa take more time during the monsoon season that runs from June to September due to safety reasons.

It is also advisable to carry a valid ticket and ensure your safety by staying vigilant and securing your luggage by tying it to the base of your seat. A few simple guidelines and a fun-loving nature can make your Mumbai to Goa train journey a memorable one.

Meera Watts
Meera Watts is the owner and founder of Siddhi Yoga International. She is known worldwide for her thought leadership in the wellness industry and was recognized as a Top 20 International Yoga Blogger. Her writing on holistic health has appeared in Elephant Journal, CureJoy, FunTimesGuide, OMtimes and other international magazines. She got the Top 100 Entrepreneur of Singapore award in 2022. Meera is a yoga teacher and therapist, though now she focuses primarily on leading Siddhi Yoga International, blogging and spending time with her family in Singapore.

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