India’s first private train Lucknow-New Delhi Tejas Express will be flagged off by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on 4th October and from the next day, it will start its commercial operation in between New Delhi and Lucknow.
Indian railways, as part of its move to hand over certain trains to private players with an objective to provide world-class passenger service, was a proposal mooted by it in its 100-day agenda. This becomes the first train of the national transporter that will be fully operated by its subsidiary IRCTC(Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) and is the first step towards privatising operations of some trains.
Within two days of opening of counters for the bookings, more than 2,000 passengers have booked tickets in the first IRCTC-run train, Tejas Express, from Lucknow to New Delhi and back, officials said on Sunday.
As on Sunday evening, while the Tejas train – number 82501 from Lucknow to Delhi has 749 bookings, on its return journey- number 82502 from Delhi to Lucknow has 1,549 journeys to be taken till November 20, as officials said. The majority bookings are between 23rd October 23 to 26th October 26, just ahead of Diwali.
Passengers travelling in AC chair car, executive chair car of the Tejas Express will also for the first time ,have the option of choose combo meals on board—catering charges of ₹185 for AC chair car and ₹245 for executive chair car are included in the ticket prices—for the full length of the journey (Lucknow to Delhi). The maximum charge (Delhi to Lucknow) will be ₹340 and ₹385 respectively.In both the categories, passengers will be offered some refreshment right once boarding done. They will have two options –Option 1 -Tea/Coffee (pre-mix kit) with cookies (chair car), premium cookies for Executive class. And option 2 — pre-packaged nimboo pani with cookies (CC); flavoured lassi in lieu of nimboo pani in Executive Class.
For breakfast, passengers can opt from a vegetarian combo of two pieces of vegetable cutlets with poha. The other combo is two pieces of vegetable uttapam with vermicelli and coconut chutney for all.
The other combo includes two pieces of Medu Vada and suji upma and coconut chutney. A non-vegetarian option is also in offer which includes masala omelette and sautd vegetables.
In all these combos, additional cornflakes, sugar sachet and milk will be provided to executive class passengers.
Passengers have also the option to order additional edible items during journey.Just before the end of the journey, passengers will be served light refreshments like small masala samosa/branded cookies with tea/coffee premix; additional muffin/slice of cake for Executive class.
The Lucknow to New Delhi ticket prices for IRCTC’s Tejas Express will be ₹1,125 for AC chair car and ₹2,310 for executive chair car. While a ticket on the reverse journey will cost ₹1,280 for AC chair car passengers and ₹2,450 for those opting for executive chair car.Though, the fares may fluctuate along all sections since the train will operate on the flexi-fare scheme.
The Tejas Express will start its journey from Lucknow at 6.10 am, and reach Delhi at 12.25 pm. On its back, the Express to leave New Delhi at 4.30 pm and will reach Lucknow at 10.45 pm.
