SWT passengers will be able to enjoy a smoke-free ride

South West Trains - one of the country's biggest rail companies - will enforce a no-smoking policy on all its trains from this weekend.

The company provides services across the South of England and on busy commuter routes into London Waterloo.

It said the ban would begin with the summer timetable on Sunday in an effort to keep new trains "tip-top".

Clean route

Head of Customer Service Andrew Fairbank said a total smoking ban had been proposed to coincide with the introduction of new trains.

"We want to keep them in tip-top condition," he said.

"This new policy brings us into line with many other transport operators and is also in response to feedback we get from passengers who object to smoking on trains."

A statement on the website of the pro-smoking organisation Forest said a smoking ban on short-haul train journeys "is not unreasonable".