Chiltern Railways have proved how it makes sense to own the track you operate on.

Jack Palfrey, Oxford

It cannot come soon enough. Unfortunately with the Tories what I call ‘idiotology’ prevents common sense from prevailing.

Arthur Bond, Frome

It should never have been sold off and has never been successful. Bring back to public ownership and start the freight and post going by rail again.

Susan Cole, North Shields

BR should not have been privatised in the first place.

Jim Aird, Edinburgh

We have the most expensive and crowded system in Europe. It’s unfair and only benefits the shareholders who abdicate responsibility when there are problems.

Derek Staton, Crouch End

Re-nationalise the power companies while you are at it, so they can’t blackmail you with power cut threats.

Oliver Otway, Sudbury

Let’s have a national co-ordinated service with sensible pricing.

Christina Upton, Beverley

Railways are a service and not for private profit.

Richard Hart, Bromley

The current franchise setup is a national disgrace, designed to generate maximum profit from poorly served passengers.

Brian Racher, West Sussex

The franchising and ticketing for privatised railways is ridiculous. Bring back British Rail which my father worked for many years.

Patricia Steeden, Watford

Privatisation has taken its toll on the whole railway system in Britain, turning it into a complete mess, not to mention train fares going up year after year.

Jamie Spilsbury, Merseyside

Bring back British Rail. Now With Investment and reopening closed lines.

Josh Welby, London

Integrated rail planning is crucial to our country, passengers, freight and tourists. Why can’t we emulate Germany, France and Japan?

Ian Munro, Tilston,

Profits should go to improvements not to shareholders.

Joan Darling, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Good luck to the campaign.

James Greenhalgh, Huddersfield

I commute weekly to University and if I wasn’t lucky enough to have a sponsor how would I afford it? Transport is a necessity for all, not a luxury.

Debbie Goldsmith,

Certain things in our society are done best where the ethos of ‘public service’ is paramount, not first making profit so we need to think back to the British Rail of late 80’s.

Stuart Elms, Worthing

We have enough pigs with their snouts in the troughs. Keep this line for the people.

Eric Hill, Sheffield

British Rail should be nationalised as should more of Britain’s privatised industries.

Gwyn Davies, Wrexham.

The sale and consequent shambles that privatisation has left are testament to the folly of allowing political ideology to dictate transport policy. Bring back BR.

Douglas McCoy, Holt

If it can be as good as East Coast.

Marc Seccombe, Doncaster

Bring back British Rail.

Guy Harris, Windsor

Please return the profits back into the railways and not the pockets of others.

Chris Straiton, Brighton

Just give it back, please.

Maggie Gallimore, Nottingham

Where is the evidence that private rail companies work better than public? As with many of these projects, it is driven by political and business leaders’ interests.

Tosh Owen, Leeds

Keep this petition going. Privatisation has ruined the railways because then the profits go to shareholders not back into the system.

Tallon Avery, Colchester