GNER said passenger feedback prompted the ban

The company's research had shown more than 90% of passengers do not smoke and that most of them want smoking on trains to be abolished.

Customer complaints about smoking have risen by 172% since 2003 as tolerance reduced, said the firm.

The Rail Passenger Committee's East Coast Panel welcomed the ban, but pro-smokers expressed disappointment.

Customer feedback also suggested smoking on trains could be a deterrent to travel, GNER said.

Diminishing numbers

Chief operating officer Jonathan Metcalfe said: "Up until now we have tried hard to accommodate the diminishing number of people who wish to smoke whilst travelling with us.

"But it is now very clear the majority of our passengers are in favour of a total ban on smoking on our trains.

"We have responded accordingly."

GNER's move follows similar smoking bans introduced by other public transport companies.

'Hard for smokers'

GNER runs passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between London Kings Cross, the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside, the North East of England and Scotland.

Simon Clark, director of smokers' lobby group Forest, said the move was not unexpected.

He said: "It's a pity because GNER was the last train company that still had a smoking compartment. For long distance journeys, it seemed a smoking compartment was a perfect compromise.

"It's going to be hard for smokers on long journeys. But we are grateful to GNER for providing the smoking compartment for as long as they have."