Sprite Makes History with India’s First Branded Train

Sprite Takes Train Branding to the Next Level in India

Sprite is taking its brand visibility beyond conventional advertising with a first-of-its-kind partnership with IRCTC, turning the Lucknow–Delhi–Lucknow Tejas Express into a branded train.

Under the new branding arrangement, the Tejas Express will be referred to as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express, creating a prominent and unconventional touchpoint for the beverage brand across one of India’s busiest rail corridors.

The branding initiative is scheduled to run from August 19 to November 11, 2026, with Sprite securing train branding advertising rights through an agreement awarded by IRCTC.

A New Chapter in Transit Advertising

The partnership marks a significant development in India's out-of-home and transit advertising landscape. While advertising on trains has previously included exterior wraps and other branding formats, naming an entire train after a consumer brand represents a much more immersive approach to brand visibility.

As part of the arrangement, announcements at originating and en-route stations on both sides of the journey will refer to the service as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express, giving the brand visibility not only to passengers but also to commuters and audiences across railway stations.

Turning Everyday Travel Into Brand Visibility

For Sprite, the initiative provides an opportunity to connect with consumers in a high-footfall environment while creating a distinctive brand association with travel, youth culture and everyday experiences.

Unlike traditional advertising placements, train naming offers repeated exposure throughout the passenger journey and extends the brand presence across multiple physical touchpoints.

The move also highlights the growing role of transit media and experiential branding in helping brands stand out in an increasingly cluttered advertising environment.

About the Tejas Express

The Lucknow–Delhi Tejas Express, operating as Train 82501/82502, is an air-conditioned superfast service operated by IRCTC. The train offers onboard food and beverage services, infotainment and group-booking facilities for occasions including corporate events, weddings and social gatherings.

The service was introduced in December 2021 and connects Lucknow with Delhi, making it an important passenger route for the region.

A Landmark Move for Brand Advertising

The Sprite Tejas Express demonstrates how brands are exploring unconventional media formats to create stronger visibility and cultural relevance.

By putting its name directly into the railway ecosystem, Sprite is turning a routine travel service into a large-scale branding opportunity showing how transit advertising can evolve from simple visibility to memorable brand integration.

For India's advertising and marketing industry, the initiative could also open the door for more brands to explore train naming rights and innovative railway-media partnerships in the future.