The Sprite Tejas Express:
Indian Railways and IRCTC awarded full commercial train-branding rights for the Lucknow–Delhi–Lucknow Tejas Express (Sprite Tejas Express) to beverage brand Sprite for six months.
- The ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express is India’s first privately branded, fully air-conditioned corporate superfast train operated by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) featuring full external/internal brand advertising rights.
- Operates Between: Lucknow Junction (LJN), Uttar Pradesh to New Delhi (NDLS).
- Runs under the operational supervision of the North Eastern Railway (NER) zone using Indian Railways infrastructure.
- Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), paying haulage charges to Indian Railways.
- Branding Partner: M/s Sprite (The Coca-Cola Company).
- Aim is to commercialize train branding to generate non-fare revenue for IRCTC/Indian Railways while offering high-speed, modern passenger amenities on a key intercity transit corridor.
Key Features:
- First Branded Train Name: Marks the first instance in Indian Railways history where a scheduled train service incorporates a commercial corporate brand name in station audio/visual announcements.
- On-Board Passenger Comforts: Equipped with modern LHB coaches, extensive high-quality on-board food/beverage catering, and personalized infotainment systems.
- Group Booking Provision: Allows corporate groups, wedding parties, or event travelers to book an entire AC Chair Car coach (78-seat capacity) as a single block.
- Semi-High-Speed Operations: Runs 6 days a week, covering the ~512 km route between Lucknow and New Delhi in approximately 6 hours and 15 minutes.
