Profits before people is not the way forward.

Simon Bolton, Leeds

Nationalisation of the railways has always been an essential part of society. I am pessimistic in the extreme in these days of everything being privatised.

Simon Mayhall, Leeds

I have worked on the railways for over 33 years, first as British Rail when I joined in 1980, and I can honestly say it has not improved in private ownership.

Grahame Wood, Broughton

Ticket price is a theft. Do something about it.

Rafal Drozdowski, Chelmsford

They should never have been privatised in the first place.

Jack Holden, Barnsley

Better service for public, not all about making money.

Ian Adams, Castle Cary

A civilised country would run a unified and expanded network affordable to everyone (while taking freight off the crumbling roads network.) Re-nationalise now.

Lindy Ayubi, Exeter

Britain saw the birth of railways, but since privatisation the system has steadily declined and fallen well behind other countries. It’s in the public interest to improve.

Chris Poulton, London

Privatisation doesn’t work. Railways are infrastructure.

Steve Wilson, Manchester

A usable, affordable rail network is a vital part of tackling climate change.

Paul Stevens, Matlock

Could we get BR as good as SNCF?

Ian Buckley, Castle Douglas

The British Rail I knew in my childhood was the pride of this nation and an example for the World. With vision, it can be again.

Adam Greenfield, London

Bring back British Rail. Run it for the public not for greedy shareholders

Perry Neill, London

Not for profit.

M Anderson, Ipswich

It’s an absolute shambles.

Terry Folkman, Didcot

Overpriced fares, overcrowded and late trains. When FCC franchise runs out in 2014 the route should be taken back into public ownership. Put passengers before profits.

Teresa Smith, Royston

The UK rail network services should be the best they can be, not for private profit but for the support they can give to the UK society and economy.

Trevor Udberg, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

We need a joined-up train service run in the public interest, owned by the public.

Simon Jones, Bromley

I actually reside in the US, but have friends in the UK, and have used the trains many a time. I’m all for decent travel.

Raymond Kerstetter, London

In 1948 the Government of the day had to nationalise the railways to keep them operating. That time has returned.

Roger Jacob, Wrexham

Bring back British Rail and put our money back into Britain.

Norman Farenden, Poole

The railways should be run by the public, for the public. Also, see article six of the Sankey Charter – the TOC’s speculate.

Edmund Kyberd, Birmingham

Taxpayers should not be subsidising the profit gained by the City of London.

Francis Kelly, Wallsend

I am an occasional user, not a commuter. On those occasions when I do travel the dis-service afforded to rail users by the current shambles is more than apparent.

Bruce Scott, Leigh-on-Sea

People before profit. The country needs an affordable rail network.

Mark Zaretti, Leeds

We need a rail service that is not at the mercy of profiteering companies.

Sue Macfadyen, Haddington

Standard text book economics tells you that private ownership of a natural monopoly is a bad idea. Train service is cheaper and better in countries with public ownership.

Thomas Renstrom, Durham

Too expensive to use.

Carole Dennis, Newton Abbot