Indian Railways decides to run country's first 'private train', Tejas Express on these two routes

Tejas Express, which runs between Delhi and Lucknow, will be the first private train in the country. The Railways has decided to hand over the exercise of certain trains to private hands. Initially, Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central Tejas Express and Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express will be assigned to IRCTC as a pilot project. Also, the fare of these trains will be flexible as per demand. However, the announcement to run Tejas Express from Delhi was made in 2016. 

Tejas Express has airplane like facilities with LCD screen, attendant button on every seat etc. It has LED lights, auto detectors for cigarette smoking, CCTV camera and USB charging on each seat. The trains will be assigned to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). It will pay the lease fee to financial hand of railways i.e IRFC. 

According to a blueprint, the Railway Board will hand over two trains to the tourism and catering branch of the Railways for a period of three years, as a pilot project. The responsibility of running these two trains will be given for three years to IRCTC, while exemptions, privileges or duty passes will not be allowed in the period. 

The Railways also said that ticket checking will not be done by the railway staff in the trains entrusted to IRCTC. These two trains will have a different number and will be operated by railway staff like loco pilot, guard and station master.

The services of both these trains will be similar to Shatabdi Express and will be given the same priority. The proposal to bring private operators to provide world class passenger services was brought by the Railways in its 100-day plan.