Jim White, Newcastle-upon-TyneSafety and operation of our rail network should not be in private hands. We need an integrated rail system.
Geoff Dunbar, TorquayRestore the public service, reverse loading of costs on passengers, invest in public transport as a real national asset for everyone.
Martin Ruddy, MansfieldRail privatisation is another example of the woolly-minded, neo-liberal economics which are ruining this country and the rest of the world.
Terry McCann, WorthingThe transport of people around our country is a public service, not a profit opportunity for the benefit of fat-cats.
Matthew Markland, BirstallIt’s overdue but it’s time to re-nationalise the railway system. Bring back British Rail.
John Hurley, GloucestershireI am fed up with stupid pricing and restrictive tickets, which just line the pockets of transport conglomerates like Arriva.
Bess Britton, RiponAbout time.
Sundeep Maini, LeicesterIt makes it very difficult to work in London whilst living in Leicester when train season tickets are so expensive.
Michael Woodward, NottinghamIf the East Coast mainline can be run at a profit by the public sector, so can the rest of the network.
Will Steeds, ColchesterThey’re still using ex-BR Mark III coaches, ‘cascaded’ from West Coast mainline. Last week, no light, no heat in coach D. Terrible service. Bring back BR.
Philip Barlow, NottinghamConnectivity, simple fare system, all better as British Rail, with profits ploughed back.
Nicola Brown, LondonAs a frequent weekend traveller to Derby, I am sorry to say that it is now cheaper for me to drive around London and then on the M1 to Derby rather than travel by train.
Matthew Warren, BuryEnd corporate welfare. If we start with this small sector, it will snowball, then we can re-nationalise the oligarchs’ portfolios – gas, electricity etc.
Tom Morris, ManchesterStanding up from London to Manchester on an overcrowded train is one thing. But to pay upwards of £87 for the journey is criminal.
James Martin, WickfordA long-suffering Abellio Greater Anglia customer.
G Hanham, Berwick-upon TweedI am old enough to know how good our rail network was when it was a public service and a critical part of our infrastructure. It’s about time we returned to that ethos.
Kathryn Proudlock, Newcastle-upon-TynePrivatisation was a big mistake.
John Selby, LondonI’m fed up with the mess of franchises that all seem to rip us off.
David Peacock, YorkLet’s face it, privatisation was never about being better for passengers. It was about those in the private sector cashing in. It’s been a catastrophic failure.
Garry Rogers, SouthamptonOther countries prove that railways can be run efficiently. This government does not have the right to keep dishing out franchises to private speculators.
John Sewell, HuntingdonFirst Capital Connect must be one of the few rail operators not to offer reduced advance fares. East Coast seems to give a better service – why? No profit motive?
Donald Purdy, WakefieldIt is supposed to be public transport after all.
Stuart Francis, CheshuntHorrendous company. Trains are too old, crowded and infrequent. They just want to take our money and invest nothing.
Phillip Jameson, LeedsEast Coast is an example that a railway run by the state can be efficient. End the stupid franchise idea so we can get better long-term investment that benefits users.
Duncan Stone, Hebden BridgeBring it back.
Elizabeth Cross, ChichesterI long for the old days when the railways were run by people who were truly interested in their jobs and not run for greedy profiteers but for the passengers.
Peter Alderton, GravesendI’ve been on the railways for ten years and the level of service has gone down. They shouldn’t have been sold off as they should be for the people not private profit.
Patricia Glen, BorehamwoodSince privatisation the rail service has deteriorated and become more expensive.
Ronald Boyle, BangorRail, road, water, power are all national infrastructure essentials, created by the labours of generations before us and not to be squandered or pilfered by the wealthy.
Ken Jones, BicesterIt seems like this privatisation was completed using the worst of the umpteen awful schemes thought of at the time. It costs the taxpayer more now than it ever did.