IRCTC approves Sprite branding on Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express starting Aug 20

From Aug 20, the Lucknow-Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express will carry the ‘Sprite’ prefix, marking India’s first privately branded passenger train. IRCTC approved the branding request from Sprite, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola India, and authorized vinyl wraps on five of the train’s coaches for a six-month period, for which Sprite paid about Rs 91 lakh. The railway authority indicated that additional companies may apply to brand the remaining coaches, with assignments made on a first-come-first-served basis to generate non-fare income.

This move builds on the railways’ initial foray into corporate-branded trains launched in December 2021, when private participation in passenger services was first explored. Presently, the Tejas brand operates two routes—Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Ahmedabad—offering group bookings that let corporate or social groups reserve an entire AC Chair Car coach. The Sprite partnership represents the latest step in monetising train assets beyond ticket sales.