This is first corporate train in India, not Vande Bharat, Rajdhani express, Shatabdi express, name is…, its route is…

Indian railways are considered to be one of the most convenient and affordable means of transportation, thus ensuring that people from diverse economic backgrounds can travel with ease and affordability. Every day, thousands of people across the country depend on trains for their daily commute and long-distance travel. While Indian Railways operates under government ownership, private participation has also been introduced in the sector. Do you know which is the first corporate train in India?

The Lucknow-New Delhi Tejas Express became India’s first train to be operated privately under the Indian Railways’ Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. It was introduced in 2019. Following its positive response, a second Tejas Express was launched on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route.

This is first corporate train in India, not Vande Bharat, Rajdhani express, Shatabdi express, name is…, its route is…

While the Tejas Express operates on Indian Railways’ tracks, its operations—including ticketing, catering, and onboard services—are handled by IRCTC. This makes it a semi-private venture focused on improving the quality of travel for passengers.

Tejas Express sets itself apart from traditional trains by offering airline-style amenities such as onboard catering, personalized customer service, travel insurance, and even compensation for delays. The train features modern interiors with ergonomic seating, LCD infotainment screens, CCTV surveillance, automatic doors, and bio-vacuum toilets—delivering a premium and secure travel experience for passengers.

The Tejas Express on the Lucknow-Delhi route has just two stops—Kanpur and Ghaziabad—before reaching its final destination. The train departs from Lucknow at 6:10 AM and arrives in Delhi by 12:25 PM. On the same day, the return journey begins from Delhi at 3:35 PM, with the train reaching Lucknow at 10:05 PM.

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