A file picture of a hostess serving beverages to tourists on a Toy Train at Sukna

Siliguri, Sept. 3: Two coaches each of Uttarbanga Express and Kanchankanya Express will soon have the amenities so long associated with a Rajdhani or the Toy Train closer home.

Come October 1, passengers travelling on the two trains running between Sealdah and New Jalpaiguri can sip beverages and savour chosen meals, all served by “train hostesses”, while they listen to music in a modified AC coach.

KBS Tours and Travels, a Siliguri-based tour operator, has taken two coaches each from these trains on lease and named them Queens Bee.

“The service is the first of its kind in India in the sense that it is a private venture,” claimed Sanjoy Goswami, the managing director (MD) of the firm. “Plus, the amenities will be available in common trains. We have got sanctions from the railways to use two coaches of each express train. But initially, the service will be available only in one compartment. Sixty-four passengers can travel against a fare of Rs 1,450 each and enjoy the extra facilities.”

The charge fixed by the tour operator is higher than the existing two-tier and three-tier AC fares which are Rs 896 and Rs 654 respectively.

“But passengers can enjoy a different ambience in the compartment. From curtains to bedrolls to meals, everything will be of superior quality. Added to that are the services rendered by the hostesses, security guards and housekeeping staff, numbering two each,” said Goswami.

The guards will be in addition to the existing security personnel posted by the railways.

The tour operator decided to go for the experiment after it tasted success in a similar venture in the Toy Train of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

“We are thinking of launching luxury services on six other long distant trains by December this year,” said Goswami.

These are Bangalore-Guwahati Express, Delhi-Sealdah Sampark Kranti Express, Guwahati-Delhi Sampark Krantui Express, Mumbai–Howrah Mail, Puri-Howrah Express and Digha-Howrah Express.

“We have entered into an agreement with the railways to run luxury coaches for the next five years and are hopeful that the idea will be a hit as several passengers want a comfortable journey and more amenities by paying extra money,” he said.

The tickets for the journey in these coaches will not, however, be available at railway booking counters. “Authorised agents have been appointed in Calcutta and Siliguri to sell the tickets. People can book the seats from our offices in these places too,” said Gautam Goswami, who is associated with the company.

A railway official said the tour agent had taken the cue from the success of the Toy Trains. “It is definitely an offbeat initiative. We expect the response to be encouraging when the service is introduced in long distant trains as well.”