As an ex-BR employee, it breaks my heart to see the state of the privatised rail network. Back to public ownership as soon as possible.

Robert Birch, Bromsgrove

What could I say that would be repeatable?

Laurence Lea, Hereford

The train operating companies are fleecing taxpayers and the government.

Una-Jane Winfield, London

Stop this fragmented, disjointed shambles and have a railway run for passengers not shareholders.

Ian David, Bath

East Coast was a excellent service. Why let Virgin take it over? ScotRail is a disaster – dirty, unpunctual trains.

Peter Manuel, Stornoway

I am not a socialist, but believe the railway system and utilities should be in public ownership.

Ian Shaw, Cotgrave

I have never had a car, and always relied on public transport. It has got more and more expensive and inconvenient.

Vivien Doyle, Buxton

Rail enthusiast from London. Bring back British Rail.

George Odlum, London

I remember the days when there was one simple pricing system. A return ticket was always cheaper than two singles. The system was easy to understand.

Michael Gascoigne, Wallsend

Bring back our railway – under public ownership.

Barbara Alexander, Bude

It’s scandalous that the Scottish railway has been sold to the Dutch national rail. Give our railways back to the people.

Ben Carlin, Falkirk

BR wasn’t perfect, but it was affordable and, for the most part, worked well. The current system of private monopolies is only of benefit to railway company shareholders.

Howard Spencer, Hove

Completely overpriced for the service and comfort of the trains. Always my last resort.

Helen Amphlett, Tewkesbury

We are tired of poor service, ever increasing fares and train times which keep changing. Privatisation has not worked. It is time to re-nationalise.

Caroline Carmichael, Castle Douglas

Reverse the idiocracy.

Simon Edwards, Stoke-on-Trent

The only recent franchise that ran on time and made a profit was one taken over and run by the state.

Anita Smith, Mirfield

Bring back British Rail and get rid of this joke of a railway we now have.

Paul Smith, Sheffield

British Rail should be owned by the people and make enough profit to keep it first class for all users, not shareholders.

Colin Fribbens, Exeter

It was more reliable, safer and more cost-efficient in public ownership.

Jeffrey Keight, Liverpool

Bring back British Rail.

Mark Sach, Ipswich

Such a service should be run for the people and not private profit.

Veronica Ballan, Alnwick

We could even bring back the connecting service.

Peter Wilton, Maidenhead

I would be so happy to have simpler and consistently priced train tickets.

Alison Cook, Swansea

Bringing Back British Rail will save millions of lives on our roads and help save the NHS. It is a sensible way to fix the UK economy.

Paul Bright, Bournemouth

I’m sick of big business making all the money and leaving the tax payers (Network Rail) to foot the bill.

Ian Snipp, London

I travel the rails a lot. East Coast mainline is by far the best in terms of service, ticket price, and customer care. It is owned by us and makes a surplus for us.

Hugh Butcher, Tadcaster

With real investment in rail we could do so much to improve our environment, but a privatised industry is full of perverse incentives. Bring back BR, and go for it.

John Beardmore, Ilkeston

This makes very good sense.

Pamela Billingham, Lancaster

We can only move forward with prioritising joined-up low-carbon travel for the benefit of our society and the world if our railways are also joined-up – and planned to be.

Laura Rogers, Bristol

Southeastern and Thameslink are a joke. They cannot run a railway simulator let alone an actual railway.

Martyn Martin, London