The FCE railway station is Manakara's most important travel landmark, the place where the mountain train finally reaches the coast. On operating days the station becomes a small theatre of luggage, produce, relatives, and passengers comparing stories from the long descent.
Even if you arrive by road, it is worth having a look. The railway explains Manakara's place on the map better than any monument: this is the end of a difficult line linking the highland interior to the Indian Ocean.