Passengers travelling on the Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express may soon hear a rather unusual name at railway stations. The IRCTC-operated train is set to be branded as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express for nearly three months, in what is being described as the first instance of an Indian train formally carrying a commercial brand name.

According to Railway sources cited by The Hindu, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has awarded train-branding advertising rights to M/s Sprite for a six-month period. Based on the arrangement, the North Eastern Railway has been asked to announce Train Nos. 82501/82502 as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express from August 19 to November 11, 2026.

The branding will not be limited to the train itself. According to the report, the train will be announced as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express at originating and en-route stations in both directions.

Is this India’s first train to carry a brand name?

The deal marks a new development in railway advertising, with the Lucknow-Delhi Tejas becoming the first train to be named after a commercial brand under such an arrangement.

While the Lucknow-Delhi Tejas is referred to as a private train, IRCTC pays Indian Railways for the use of railway infrastructure, including tracks and stations.

The branding arrangement is separate from the operation of the railway network. Under the advertising model, companies can place their branding on permitted parts of trains, including exteriors, while Indian Railways continues to provide the infrastructure used by the service.

Why the Tejas Express is being branded

The Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express is operated by IRCTC and has been positioned as a premium, fully air-conditioned service with onboard food and beverage services and infotainment facilities.

The train was flagged off by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on December 3, 2021. IRCTC also permits group bookings, allowing corporate groups and those travelling for weddings or other social occasions to book an entire AC Chair Car coach with 78 seats.

For passengers, the change may simply mean hearing a different name over station announcements.

But for Indian Railways' advertising model, the arrangement could represent a notable shift in how trains are commercially branded.