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In a major relief for railway passengers in Odisha, Indian Railways has decided to convert the popular Bhanjapur-Puri-Bhanjapur Special trains into regular Express train services. The decision was taken due to the consistently high number of passengers using these trains and the growing demand for better connectivity between the two cities.
Bhanjapur-Puri Special Express Train
From May 21, 2026, the trains will operate regularly as Train No. 18017/18018 Bhanjapur-Puri-Bhanjapur Express. The 18017 Bhanjapur-Puri Express will leave Bhanjapur at 11:10 PM and reach Puri at 5:50 AM the next morning. Similarly, the 18018 Puri-Bhanjapur Express will depart from Puri at 11:50 PM and arrive at Bhanjapur at 6:50 AM the following day.
Train Stoppages
These overnight train services are expected to be very convenient for passengers because they allow people to travel during the night and save daytime hours. The trains will stop at important stations such as Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Baripada, Balasore, Soro, Bhadrak, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, and Khurda Road. This will improve railway connectivity between northern Odisha and coastal Odisha.
How will this Service Benefit Passengers?
Since these trains were introduced as special services, they have received a strong response from passengers. By making them permanent Express trains, Indian Railways aims to provide more reliable schedules, better ticket booking availability, and stable long-term operations. The new regular service is expected to help many types of passengers, including students, office workers, business travellers, tourists, and pilgrims visiting the famous temple city of Puri. It will also make travel easier and more comfortable for people travelling regularly across Odisha.