New Delhi: India’s railway network is set to get a new commercial twist, with the Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express becoming the country’s first train to officially carry a commercial brand name. For a limited period, the premium service will be known as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express, following a branding agreement between the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and beverage brand Sprite.
The branding arrangement is expected to run for around three months, with Train 82501/82502 set to be announced as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express from August 19 to November 11, 2026. The move represents a new form of railway advertising in India, where a commercial brand name will become part of the train’s official announcement at stations.
Sprite Tejas Express: What is changing?
The Lucknow-Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express is operated by IRCTC and has been selected for a commercial branding arrangement with Sprite.
According to railway sources cited in the report, IRCTC awarded advertising and train-branding rights to Sprite for six months. As part of the arrangement, the North Eastern Railway has been asked to announce Train 82501/82502 as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express between August 19 and November 11.
The branding will not be limited to advertisements displayed inside or outside the train. The commercial name will also be used in announcements at the train’s originating and en-route stations in both directions.
That makes the agreement different from conventional railway advertising, where brands typically occupy designated advertising spaces without becoming part of the train’s announced identity.
India’s first train to carry a commercial brand name
Indian Railways has previously allowed companies to advertise across trains and railway properties. However, the Sprite arrangement marks a new step because the commercial brand will be incorporated into the train’s announcement.
The branding rights were reportedly awarded through a Letter of Acceptance issued by IRCTC.
For advertisers, such an arrangement offers visibility beyond conventional posters, digital displays or advertisements placed inside coaches. A train travelling regularly between two major cities can provide repeated exposure to passengers as well as people encountering the service at stations.
For the railways, meanwhile, branded assets can create an additional commercial opportunity without changing the underlying operation of the service.
The experiment could also attract attention from other companies looking for large-scale advertising opportunities across India’s railway network.
Is the Sprite Tejas Express really a private train?
The term ‘private train’ needs some clarification.
The Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express is frequently described as India’s first private train because it is operated by IRCTC rather than directly by Indian Railways. However, this does not mean that a private company owns or operates the railway infrastructure used by the service.
The tracks and stations remain part of the Indian Railways network. IRCTC pays the Railways for using infrastructure such as railway tracks and stations.
Similarly, Sprite is not taking control of the train’s operations.
The branding agreement is essentially a commercial advertising arrangement. Sprite gets the right to associate its brand with the train and permitted railway assets for a specified period, while IRCTC retains responsibility for operating the service.
Therefore, passengers should not expect the branding agreement to change who runs the train or how the railway infrastructure is managed.
When was the Tejas Express launched?
The Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express was launched in 2019 and was positioned as a premium and modern rail service.
The fully air-conditioned train offers services including on-board food and beverages and infotainment. Over the years, the service has also been used for group travel and special occasions, including corporate events and weddings.
The train’s positioning as a premium service makes it a particularly visible platform for commercial branding.
IRCTC also allows passengers to book an entire AC Chair Car coach for group travel. Each coach has 78 seats, providing an option for organisations or groups travelling together.
Why brands may be interested in railway branding
The Sprite deal could be important beyond this individual train because it demonstrates how railway assets can be monetised through more integrated forms of advertising.
Traditional advertisements compete for attention with hundreds of other commercial messages. A train name, however, is repeated through station announcements, digital information and passenger communication.
A branded train can therefore provide a company with repeated visibility over a defined period.
For a mass-market consumer brand, railway travel can be particularly attractive because trains connect large cities and towns while serving passengers from different demographic groups.
The commercial value will ultimately depend on the terms of the agreement, including the duration and the advertising rights provided. Those financial details have not been disclosed in the India Today report.
What passengers can expect
For passengers, the most visible change will be the name used for the service during the branding period.
Train 82501/82502 will be announced as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express from August 19 to November 11.
There is no indication that Sprite will operate the train or that the basic nature of the Tejas Express service will change because of the agreement.
The train will continue to function as an IRCTC-operated Tejas service using Indian Railways infrastructure.
The commercial branding is therefore primarily an advertising development rather than a change to the railway’s ownership or operating structure.
A new direction for railway advertising
The agreement comes at a time when India’s rail network is increasingly being viewed not only as a transport system but also as a large commercial platform.
Stations, trains and other railway properties offer advertisers access to millions of passengers and visitors. As railway services become more modern and premium, opportunities for targeted branding could expand.
The Sprite Tejas Express could serve as a test case for how far commercial branding can be integrated into passenger rail services.
If the arrangement proves commercially successful, other train services could potentially attract similar branding partnerships.
However, any expansion would depend on regulatory permissions, commercial interest and the terms under which railway assets are made available to brands.
Why the deal matters for IRCTC
For IRCTC, the arrangement represents another possible source of non-fare revenue.
The company already operates services and manages several commercial activities connected with railway travel. Advertising and branding rights can provide additional revenue without requiring an increase in passenger fares.
The concept is particularly interesting because it uses an existing asset rather than requiring a new train or service to be introduced.
The branding period is also limited, allowing the railway authorities to evaluate the commercial impact before considering whether similar arrangements should be expanded.
Will more trains get brand names?
It is too early to say whether the Sprite Tejas Express will lead to widespread commercial naming of trains.
The arrangement is notable precisely because it is the first such example in India. Its success could influence whether advertisers and railway authorities see commercial train naming as a viable long-term opportunity.
If brands are willing to pay a premium for naming rights and passengers respond positively, the model could eventually become another component of railway advertising.
At the same time, railway authorities will need to balance commercial opportunities with the importance of maintaining clear and consistent passenger information.
Train numbers and routes remain essential for travellers, particularly on a network as large as India’s. Commercial branding therefore needs to complement rather than confuse the information passengers rely on.
Conclusion
The Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express is entering a new chapter as it becomes the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express for a limited period. From August 19 to November 11, Train 82501/82502 is expected to carry the commercial brand name in railway announcements, making it India’s first train to officially use a commercial brand identity.
The development does not mean Sprite is operating the train. IRCTC remains the operator, while Indian Railways continues to own and manage the underlying railway infrastructure. Instead, the agreement is a branding and advertising arrangement designed to monetise railway assets.
For passengers, the change will mainly be heard in station announcements and seen through the train’s branding. For IRCTC and advertisers, however, the deal could represent the beginning of a new commercial model for India’s railway network.
If the experiment proves successful, the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express may eventually be remembered not just as a branded train, but as the service that opened the door to a new era of commercial train naming in India.