New Delhi: The Tejas Express, country’s first semi-private train and operated by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), has reported a profit of approximately Rs 70 lakh in its first month with total revenues touching nearly Rs 3.70 crore from ticket sales, according to an India dot com report.
Launched on October 5, 2019, the Lucknow–New Delhi Tejas Express has operated with an average occupancy of 80–85 per cent, according to data collected up to October 28. During this 21-day period, the train, which runs six days a week, incurred operating expenses of around Rs 3 crore. IRCTC, a subsidiary of Indian Railways, has been spending nearly Rs 14 lakh per day to operate the train while generating an average daily revenue of about Rs 17.50 lakh from fares.
All operational responsibilities fall under IRCTC
The Tejas Express is a key component of the Railways’ broader strategy to modernise infrastructure and improve passenger experience. As part of its ambitious vision, the government aims to redevelop 50 railway stations to world-class standards and permit private players to run up to 150 trains on Indian Railways’ vast network.
While the train runs on Railways’ existing tracks, all operational responsibilities—including ticketing, onboard catering, customer service, and maintenance—fall under the IRCTC. This is Railways’ first direct experience of outsourcing the day-to-day running of a passenger train to a non-railway operator.
The service has been well received, owing largely to its modern features and customer-centric offerings. Passengers enjoy airline-style amenities such as ergonomic seating, LCD infotainment screens, CCTV surveillance, automatic doors, bio-vacuum toilets, personalised catering, and complimentary travel insurance up to Rs 25 lakh. Moreover, IRCTC compensates passengers in the event of delays—a first for Indian train travel.
