The 12801 / 12802 Purushottam Express is a daily train which runs between Puri in Odisha and . It is one of the most highly demanded train between Puri to New Delhi. The train is of Superfast category and passes through states of Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh. It was the first train in India to have a Braille-embedded coach for blind passengers.
On 2nd November 2021, 1 AC First Class coach added to Purushottam Express. After which, It became the 1st Delhi-Odisha Superfast Train to have dedicated 1 AC Coach.
Timetable
From Puri to New Delhi- 12801. The train starts from Puri every day
From New Delhi to Puri – 12802. The train starts from New Delhi every day.
Coaches
The train consists of 20 LHB coach which includes :-
Seven Sleeper class Coaches
Six AC 3 Tier
One AC 2 Tier
One 1st AC Coach
Two General class Coaches
One EOG & One Divyang-Jan Coach
One Pantry Car.
Traction
It is hauled by a Tughlakabad or Ghaziabad-based WAP-7 HOG equipped electric locomotive on its entire journey.
Accident
Purushottam Express collided to stationary Kalindi Express near Firozabad railway station on 20 August 1995 nearly at 3 AM. 358 people died in the Firozabad rail disaster and hence it is considered as second most deadliest rail accident in Indian Railways. Kalindi Express struck a Nilgai and was unable to proceed as its brakes were damaged. As the proceed signal was green for Purushottam Express, it collided with Kalindi Express from behind. Three carriages of the Kalindi express were destroyed; the locomotive and front two carriages of the Purushottam Express were derailed. Most of the 2200 passengers aboard the two trains were asleep at the time of the accident.