New Delhi, August 24
The next time you travel by train, don't be surprised if a woman smilingly approaches you to serve food as the Railways are planning to introduce hostesses in select routes to compete with the airlines.

According to the plan being finalised by the Railways ministry, refurbished AC coaches will have hostesses to serve meals and snacks to travellers.

Designated as lady train hostesses, they will be soon serving on selected trains plying between Howrah-Mumbai, Delhi-Jaipur, Delhi-Guwahati, Delhi-Sealdah, Delhi-Howrah, Sealdah-Coochbehar and Sealdah-Alipur Dooar, if the plan has its way.

Launched under public-private partnership model, the scheme has been branded as luxury service, which is to be executed by the KBS Tour and Travel, a Kolkata-based tour operator, said a senior Railways ministry official.

Apart from train hostess, the renovated AC coaches are being equipped with imported carpets, music system and STD and internet facility. — PTI