Jamshedpur, Aug. 26: Next time you board a train, your heart may just skip a beat.

Taking a cue from airlines, the Indian Railways has decided to have hostesses in what it will call premium-class coaches on trains. And this in addition to amenities such as multi-cuisine menu and music on board.

It will be luxury on wheels, confirmed a spokesperson of the South Eastern Railway (SER). The railway authorities are planning to introduce the services before Puja, he said.

A couple of new coaches will be added to some trains and these will be leased out to Calcutta-based KBS Tours and Travels, which will offer the services to passengers. The Mumbai Mail and Howrah-Mumbai Geetanjali Express, which halts at Tatanagar station, top the list of trains that will have the premium-class coaches.

“The idea is to draw more passengers. People opt for low-cost airlines these days because we do not provide facilities that can make their journey a little more comfortable,” the SER spokesperson said.

Officials said details of the project were being worked out. “We are planning to introduce the services in eight trains first. Each will have at least two premium-class coaches,” said Sanjay Goswami, director of KBS.

He said each coach will have three hostesses and two security personnel. “The coaches would be upmarket, complete with carpets, branded linen, pillows and blankets. Internet facility, LCD monitors and music systems will take care of the entertainment bit. Passengers will have to choose the menu while booking their tickets. A welcome drink will be offered to all. We are also planning a public address system to keep passengers informed during their journey,” Goswami said.

And all this will sure come for a price. The KBS director said the new services would be available at double the present cost of tickets. Tickets for the special coaches can be booked either at the KBS offices or at its website www.kbstour.com.