Goa's entry into the railway age began with the construction of the West of India Portuguese Railway, an 82-km metre-gauge line built by a British company and inaugurated in 1888. The line connected Mormugao to Castle Rock and eventually to New Hubli in British India.
The project was initiated under a treaty between Britain and Portugal in 1878, which called for a railway connecting the port of Mormugao to British India. The Portuguese government guaranteed returns on investment and provided land for free. Construction began in 1881, led by chief engineer Ernest Edward Sawyer.
The railway line traversed the Western Ghats, presenting significant engineering challenges. The 16-km ghat section included twelve tunnels, seven large bridges, and viaducts near the Dudh Sagar Waterfalls. The Sonal embankment and viaducts were notable achievements, requiring excavation of over 73,000 cubic metres of rock and earth.
Skilled workers from Ceylon and other regions were brought in to complete the tunnels quickly. The railway line transformed Mormugao into a modern port capable of berthing large steamers, enhancing its strategic and commercial importance.
The railway was seen as a strategic asset by the British Empire. It facilitated trade and passenger movement between Goa and Bombay, and was considered vital during events like the Portuguese Indian Army mutiny in 1895 and World War II.
Ownership and operation of the railway remained with the West of India Portuguese Guaranteed Railway Company, which handled transhipments at the port. The line was a symbol of colonial cooperation and competition between Britain and Portugal.
After Goa's annexation by India in 1961, the railway line was taken over by Indian Railways in 1962 and came under Southern Railway. In 1990, the Konkan Railway Corporation assumed operational control of all railways in the Konkan region, including Goa.
In 1998, the line was converted from metre gauge to Indian gauge, and the Konkan Railway was connected to the Mormugao Railway, enhancing regional connectivity. The railway continues to be a vital transport link in Goa.