The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced that the Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express will operate as the 'Sprite' Tejas Express. This development marks the first instance of an Indian train being named after a commercial brand.
Flagged off by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on December 3, 2021, the fully air-conditioned superfast train offers modern amenities, including onboard catering and infotainment services. The service also permits group bookings, allowing passengers to reserve an entire 78-seat AC Chair Car coach for corporate or social events.
While the Tejas Express is considered a private train, IRCTC continues to pay hauling charges to Indian Railways for the use of essential infrastructure such as tracks and stations. A senior Railways official confirmed that this branding initiative is a unique milestone for the national rail network.
