IRCTC Tejas Express and Private Trains: Fare, Features and Booking (2026)
Indian Railways opened the door to premium, airline-style train travel through the IRCTC Tejas Express, often called India’s first “private” train. This guide explains what these trains are, their special features, the fare and booking rules, group booking, the Foreign Tourist quota, and what happened to the wider private-train plan, in simple words.
Please note: The IRCTC Tejas trains have seen changes in their running status over the years, including suspensions due to low occupancy and the pandemic. Before planning a trip, always check the live running status and current availability on IRCTC, as schedules can change.
What is the IRCTC Tejas Express?
The Tejas Express is a premium, fully air-conditioned chair car train operated by IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation), a public sector arm of the Ministry of Railways. It was launched to bring world-class, airline-like services to rail passengers. Because the services (ticketing, catering, hospitality) are run by IRCTC rather than the core railway, it is popularly called a “private” or “corporate” train, though the tracks, locomotives, loco pilots and guards remain with Indian Railways.
Tejas Express Routes
| Train | Route | Launched |
|---|---|---|
| 82501 / 82502 | Lucknow to New Delhi to Lucknow | 4 October 2019 |
| 82901 / 82902 | Ahmedabad to Mumbai Central to Ahmedabad | 17 January 2020 |
See detailed pages for the Lucknow to New Delhi Tejas Express and the Ahmedabad to Mumbai Tejas Express.
Special Features of Tejas Express
- Free travel insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh for every passenger.
- Trip delay compensation: Rs 100 if the train is late by more than 1 hour, and Rs 250 if late by more than 2 hours.
- Food included: meals are compulsory and charged at booking, with morning tea, breakfast, snacks, high tea and dinner served as per timings.
- Modern coaches with LED screens, call buttons, automatic doors, CCTV, and RO drinking water.
- Dynamic fare that varies with demand and season (lean, busy, festive), and is charged point to point.
- No concessions of any kind, and no Tatkal or Premium Tatkal quota. Only General and Foreign Tourist quotas.
- Children below 5 years travel free (no seat), and children 5 years and above are charged full fare with a seat.
- On-board ticket checking is done by IRCTC staff, and hospitality by trained service staff.
Booking Rules
- Advance Reservation Period: tickets can be booked up to 60 days in advance.
- Where to book: only through the IRCTC website and the official app. Counter (window) booking is not available for these trains.
- Current booking: available after the first chart is prepared, normally about 4 hours before departure, up to 5 minutes before departure.
- Connecting journey tickets are not allowed on these trains.
Cancellation and Refund Rules
Tejas e-tickets can be cancelled online and refunded as per railway refund rules.
| When you cancel a confirmed ticket | Deduction |
|---|---|
| More than 48 hours before departure | Flat charge per passenger (about Rs 240 EC, Rs 180 CC, plus GST) |
| Between 48 and 12 hours before | 25% of the fare (plus GST) |
| Between 12 and 4 hours before | 50% of the fare (plus GST) |
| Less than 4 hours before, or after departure | No refund |
- Waitlisted tickets: refund after a small clerkage deduction if cancelled in time. If they stay waitlisted after charting, they are auto-cancelled and fully refunded.
- Train cancelled by Railways: automatic full refund, no need to cancel or file a TDR.
- For the full refund process, see our Train Ticket Refund Status and TDR guide.
Note: Cancellation windows and charges are revised from time to time. Always rely on the deduction shown on the IRCTC cancellation screen.
Group Booking on Tejas Trains
One full AC Chair Car coach of 78 seats can be booked online for groups (for corporate travel, weddings and events):
- The full coach fare (78 seats) is charged even if the group is smaller.
- Group booking is allowed between 60 days and 5 days before the journey.
- Passenger names can be submitted up to 5 days before travel.
- A security deposit of Rs 10,000 is taken, refunded after the journey if there is no damage.
- Meals are served as per the journey timings.
Group Booking Cancellation Charges
| Cancelled before journey | Deduction |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 days | 25% of total fare |
| 30 to 10 days | 50% |
| 10 to 5 days | 70% |
| 5 to 1 day | 80% |
| Within 1 day or on journey date | No refund |
Foreign Tourist (FT) Quota
These trains have a Foreign Tourist quota (no Tatkal). Key points:
- Booking up to 60 days in advance, online only, paid by international debit or credit card.
- Passport number and nationality are mandatory at booking, and the original passport with valid visa must be carried.
- The FT quota berth is charged at 1.5 times the normal fare, with a convenience fee of Rs 200 plus GST per ticket.
- 50% of fare is deducted on cancellation (in addition to normal charges), up to 4 hours before departure.
- No concession, no name change, no agent booking, and no travel insurance under FT quota.
What Happened to the Private Trains Plan?
Alongside the IRCTC Tejas trains, Indian Railways announced a much bigger plan to allow genuine private operators to run around 150 modern trains on about 100 routes, with operators setting fares while Railways provided tracks and crew. However, this bidding initiative drew a weak response from private players and did not take off as planned. In practice, premium service on these routes has remained with IRCTC-operated trains like Tejas, while Indian Railways has focused on its own modern trains such as Vande Bharat.
For more, see our guides on Public Private Partnership in Indian Railway and the Vande Bharat Express.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Tejas Express a private train?
It is operated by IRCTC, a railway PSU, so it is called a “private” or “corporate” train, but the tracks, locomotives and crew remain with Indian Railways.
Which routes does the Tejas Express run on?
Lucknow to New Delhi and Ahmedabad to Mumbai Central. Check current running status before travel, as services have changed over time.
Are there concessions on Tejas trains?
No. There are no concessions, and no Tatkal quota. Only General and Foreign Tourist quotas apply.
What compensation do I get if a Tejas train is late?
Rs 100 for a delay over 1 hour and Rs 250 for a delay over 2 hours, plus free travel insurance up to Rs 25 lakh.
How far in advance can I book?
Up to 60 days in advance, online on IRCTC only.
Quick Summary
| Operated by | IRCTC (railway PSU) |
| Routes | Lucknow to New Delhi, Ahmedabad to Mumbai |
| Booking | IRCTC website and app only, up to 60 days |
| Special features | Free insurance, delay compensation, food included |
| Quotas | General and Foreign Tourist (no Tatkal) |
| Group booking | Full 78-seat coach, 60 to 5 days before |
The IRCTC Tejas Express showed what premium, service-focused train travel in India can look like, with insurance, delay compensation and airline-style comfort. While the wider private-train plan did not take off, modern travel options keep growing with trains like Vande Bharat. Always check the current running status before you book. For more, see our Tejas Express features and refund guides.
Have you travelled on a Tejas Express? Share your experience in the comments.