The train was started on 26 January 1973 when
T. A. Pai was the
Minister of Railways. It was started as the first direct train from
New Delhi to
Kerala and
Karnataka. Till then the people of Kerala and Karnataka relied on
Grand Trunk Express that operated between
Chennai and
New Delhi for travel to the capital. The train then was composed of only second class as Janata Express trains introduced then envisaged a classless society and upheld principles of socialism. It was called Jayanti Janata Express since 1972–73 was the Silver Jubilee (
Rajatha Jayanthi) of Indian Independence. The train had two slips one that bifurcated at and travelled to and other to . The Jayanti Janatha Express was discontinued in the 1980s & by the late '80s Mangala Express ran as a slip train, for Kerala Exp which bifurcated/amalgamated at . The train number was 2625A/2626A and was christened
Link Mangala Exp (MAQ–PGT–MAQ). Since the Konkan Railway was not yet constructed, the train was earlier running between
Mangalore and
Delhi in a roundabout route through , . Later in 1993, the slip service got discontinued & this train was made independent & officially renamed as 2617/18 Mangala Express. Since the train was running till Mangalore, the name Mangala was derived from
Mangaladevi, the most important deity of Mangalore city. In 1998–99 when Konkan Railway was opened this train got rerouted to Mangaluru via Konkan. Later,
Ram Vilas Paswan extended this train to Ernakulam Junction in Kochi for the purpose of providing rail connection to
Lakshadweep passengers who arrive at Kochi via ship. The booking facilities were opened at
Kavaratti. Subsequently, the train got renamed as Mangala Lakshadweep Express. ==Traction==