IMPROVEMENTS are on the way for travellers using the East Coast main line with news that coaches are to be upgraded.

But it won't be good news for everyone as the number of seats available for smokers will be reduced.

GNER is to spend £30m on a redesign and rebuild of all 302 coaches on its electric 225 fleet travelling between London and Scotland.

It represents the company's biggest single investment since it started running services on the line. Bosses claim it will give improved levels of comfort, reliability and convenience.

New features will include softer, contoured seats with improved back support and extra legroom, new toilets, new and re-positioned cafe-bars and brighter interiors.

There will be extra luggage storage, more power sockets, extra cycle storage areas and more space for wheelchairs.

For smokers, seven seats will be available in first class and 26 in standard coaches. Smoking areas will be separated from the rest of the saloon by a full-length glass partition with sliding door and improved air extraction.

Chief executive Christopher Garnett said: "After a decade of service, the train interiors needed a total transformation,

"Under the rebuild, as well as ensuring that the insides of the trains look and feel fantastic, huge effort has gone into making sure that everything, from the toilet doors to the kitchen ovens, actually work as they should."

The coaches will start entering passenger service from September.