Rail travel has long been an integral part of India’s mobility and social fabric, connecting cities, communities, and millions of passengers across the country. In a first-of-its-kind partnership, Sprite and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) flagged off the Sprite Tejas Express, in the presence of senior leadership from Indian Railways, IRCTC and Coca-Cola India. Bringing together Sprite’s signature refreshment with India’s diverse travel culture, the partnership creates a new experience for passengers travelling between the two cities, where varied tastes, preferences and shared moments come together along the journey.
The Delhi–Lucknow corridor offers Sprite an opportunity to connect with consumers across one of its key markets, while reaching travellers across business, leisure, and family journeys. The Sprite Tejas Express will operate on the Lucknow–New Delhi–Lucknow route for six months starting August 2026, with five coaches featuring Sprite branding across the exterior. The train will also be announced as the Sprite Tejas Express at originating and en route stations on both legs of the journey.
The experience extends onboard, with Sprite featuring as part of the passenger food bundle. The inauguration will also see passengers receive Sprite samples and merchandise, with the association set to bring further Sprite-led experiences onboard.
Abhishek Gupta, Vice President, Customer Development, Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia, said, “We congratulate IRCTC on this innovative partnership and an important milestone for travel experiences in India. At Coca-Cola, we continue to explore collaborations that can unlock new avenues for growth and create shared value. Our association with IRCTC reflects our commitment to building long-term customer relationships and expanding our presence across the travel ecosystem. With the Sprite Tejas Express, we are bringing Sprite’s refreshment and creating a more engaging experience for travellers.”
The Sprite Tejas Express directly integrates sustainability into the passenger journey by incorporating practical, recycled material applications on ground. At the station, benches made from recycled plastic, with each bench repurposing approximately 45 kg of post-consumer packaging waste. Extending this approach to its ceremonial launch, the train’s flag-off featured an official flag made from repurposed PET bottles, demonstrating how discarded materials can be transformed into functional and meaningful elements.
Ajit Kumar Sinha, Chief Regional Manager, Lucknow Division, IRCTC said “At IRCTC, we continuously look at opportunities to enhance the passenger experience across our premium train services through relevant partnerships and initiatives. Our association with Sprite on the Tejas Express brings an established consumer brand into the travel environment through an integrated onboard experience. We look forward to making the journey more engaging for passengers travelling on the Lucknow–New Delhi route.”
Further building on Sprite’s connection with food culture, the brand has also collaborated with Wow! Momo as part of the Sprite Tejas Express experience.
The Sprite Tejas Express marks a new association for Sprite, bringing the brand into the travel occasion and creating new opportunities to connect with consumers through the moments, preferences and experiences that shape their journeys.
