BOOKING PREFERENCE FOR PASSENGERS FROM COASTAL ODISHA TO CHHATTISGARH(Only included trains via SBP)
1. 12994 Puri-Gandhidham Weekly SF Exp: This train must be the first priority while booking from Odisha to any state it serves, be it Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra or Gujarat. Cleanliness is excellent, Due to less number of halts and being a weekly train, rush of unreserved passengers in SL is very much low. Though there's no pantry car present, one can opt for IRCTC e-catering at BBS, there are a lot of options available. However, for those who board from the stations beyond BBS should bring their own food from home or better have their dinner and board the train, as it arrives at DNKL/ANGL/TLHD at relatively late hours, beyond...
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dinner time. The only disadvantage about this train is that, it is a weekly train and departs from PURI on Monday so weekend travellers can't take it. Ticket availability is not that great.
2. 22827 Puri-Surat SF Weekly Express: This is train shares the slot of Puri-Gandhidham SF. It has more no. of coaches than 12994 and thus tickets are easily available. As compared to 12994, this train's maintenance is a little bit lower. However, the difference is not that much. During my last trip on this train, the only thing that I didn't like was that the windows in the AC 2-tier were dirty and throughout the journey, they remained unattended. Regarding food, the advice is same as that of 12994.
3. 20813 Puri-Jodhpur SF Weekly Express: This train takes the route via Bilaspur and is the only overnight train to Chhattisgarh on that route. Tickets are easily available and maintenance is great too. However, it runs only on wednesdays. Pantry car is available in this train and the food offered by it is decent. Dinner is served within SBP. They start taking orders after departing DNKL mostly. E-catering can also be opted. For those going on official purposes, this one has the best timings of all as its arrival at Raipur is the earliest of all.
4.22866/12880:Puri-LTT weekly/BBS-LTT bi-weekly: Almost everything is the same about these 2 trains including their slots, so I ranked them jointly. Maintenance is good, tickets are easily available, great for railfanning. However, these are day time trains and that too not on weekends and hence not very useful for those going on official purpose and those preferring overnight travel to CG. Lunch will be served within SBP.
5. 18425 Puri-Durg(Intercity) Express: This is the dedicated train to Chhattisgarh. Maintenance and cleanliness is great. However, it has a large number of halts, after Sambalpur, it halts at almost all the stations. Unreserved passengers do board the SL class. Their presence is significant in S1,S2 and S4, most of them are MST holders. Some unreserved pax may bribe the TTE to board the 3A. However, they are only given the seats, that are vacant and almost no disturbance is caused. Almost all the unreserved pax get down within Sambalpur. Pantry is not available, however IRCTC e-catering can be opted and also one can carry his/her own food. Time table is also quite convenient and being daily is also an advantage.
6. 18405 Puri-Ahmedabad Weekly Express: This is the only LHB train to Chhattisgarh/Maharashtra/Gujarat from Odisha. This train is quite well known by the people of Odisha and thus, tickets are not that easily available within a short time. However, in some UR coaches, flushes of the toilets were not working during my last trip on this one. Another issue about it is that its a weekly and goes on Wednesdays. Pantry car is available on this train and the food offered is fine.
7. 12146 Puri-LTT Weekly SF Express: This train has great maintenance. The only reason for its relatively lower ranking is because of it's late departure from Odisha. So its a no go for those going for official purpose as it arrives at Raipur at noon. Ticket availability is good.
8. 18407/18422 Puri-Sai Nagar Shirdi/Puri-Ajmer Express: They are ranked low in the list because of their very late departure from Odisha. Tickets are easily available in these trains, however these two also arrive at Raipur at noon time.
As I have not travelled by the trains taking the Vizianagaram-Raygada route, I have not included them. Again the trains not going to Raipur are not included as well, these include 14710 Puri-BKN Express, 22910 Puri-BL SF Express and 18507 Hirakud Express, these trains run on basically use the same slot as that of 12880/22866 till Bilaspur. Those going to Bilaspur can consider these trains. However, tickets are not that easily available on 22910.

General Observation regarding Speed and Punctuality-
➡️If 12994 Puri-Gandhidham SF Express reaches Raipur with Delay of 30-45 minutes, then expect some speedy action till Surat, MPS Skips, and BT arrivals except slowdowns at Udhna Outer, Kuram( near Badnera)
➡️But if 12994 reaches Raipur with Delay of more than 50-60 minutes, then CR trolls it from Azad Hind from Raipur to Bhusaval, despite that a on time arrival can be expected at Surat. Between Nagpur-Bhusaval it will maintain a delay of 1-1.5 Hours, after entering the TV Section expect a MPS run. ...
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➡️As 12993 it DOES NOT get OTed by a single train. The scheduled overtake between Jalgaon-Bhusaval mostly does not happen by Puspak Express.
➡️The The run between Jalgoan Nagpur mostly witness Slowdowns at Badnera(very common), and Khapri. Except these stops it gets full clearance
➡️The run from Puri to Raipur and vice versa ALWAYS adds up a delay for it.
➡️Not a Speedy run in between Raipur-Puri.
THANKS🤘