IRCTC has awarded train branding advertising rights for its Lucknow-Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express to Sprite for six months, in a move that will make it the first train in India to be named after a brand.
Under the arrangement, the IRCTC-operated Tejas Express, running as Train 82501/82502, will be announced as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express at originating and en-route stations on both sides of the journey. The branding will be effective from August 19 to November 11, 2026.
The advertising rights have been awarded to Sprite through a Letter of Acceptance. The initiative introduces a new avenue for brand visibility within the Indian Railways ecosystem, where exterior advertising wraps have previously been allowed on regular trains as a revenue-generating initiative.
A senior Railways official said this is the first instance of a train being named after a brand.
The Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express was flagged off in December 2021. Operated by IRCTC, the air-conditioned superfast train provides passengers with onboard food and beverage services, infotainment and group booking facilities for corporate meetings, weddings and other social gatherings.
While IRCTC operates the Tejas Express, it pays hauling charges to Indian Railways for using railway infrastructure, including tracks and stations. The branding partnership therefore represents an additional commercial opportunity within the IRCTC-operated train ecosystem.
