I regularly use East Coast Rail and want it to remain in public ownership.

Lucy Cowan, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Some of us are old enough to remember the railways used to run a lot better than they do now, and it was affordable for everyone. We need to take it back.

Rita Stroud, Ipswich

Time to put the resources of the community back into community ownership.

Andrew Macmillan, Glasgow

Taking profit out of the railways degrades the service for every passenger, decreases proper investment and encourages corners to be cut on safety.

Brian Latham, Brighton

The franchising experiment has failed.

Nathan Manthorp, Harrow

British Rail should be state owned.

John Reed, Totnes

I would class China as a country with levels and standards below ours. Their rail service is amazing.

Nicholas John, Cardiff

Bring back privatised rail transport and stop profiteering by businesses, especially Branson.

Bryan Forrest, Carlisle

Northern Rail needs to go. Levenshulme commute doesn’t work. The 08:11 is a myth.

Chris Schiele, Manchester

The rail network is being more and more fragmented and less easy to navigate.

Mark De Barr, Liskeard

If it worked here before it’ll work again. I will use it a lot more if British Rail returns.

Barbara Thomas, Dorchester

I work for Network Rail. Bring back a nationalised company that has the country, employees and passengers at heart, not profit.

Lee Pitchforks, Gravesend

The rail system is too important to be handed over to profiteers. Give it back to us.

Frank Beevers, Mexborough

British Rail was cheaper and more efficient.

Tony Fielding-Raby, Lincoln

Privatisation has meant a worse, more expensive service, in prettier uniforms, with less pay for the workforce while a few directors pocket enormous sums.

Tom Fraser, Edinburgh

The railways should be run as a public service.

John Medley, Maidenhead

We need a properly-run and cost-effective railway system and stop putting millions into corporate pockets.

Michael Poole, Greenford

Give us back our railways.

Robert Robinson, London

It’s horrible to be sat on a 142.

Reece Watren, Sheffield

All in favour as long as there is effective leadership genuinely committed to a fair deal for all.

Sonya Allen, Derby

Time to bring back what is proudly British, affordable and fair for all members of staff involved.

Nathan Hosker, Leeds

Travelling on Continental railways frequently, I am ashamed of the complexity of our ticketing systems here; they’re nonsense and exploitative.

Patrick Hanmer, Nottingham

It may not have been great in the past but it was a hell of lot better then it is now.

Ellen Gibson, Swansea

I couldn’t take a job with a £7K pay rise because I would have had to travel to London two days a week, which made me £200 a month worse off even after the pay rise.

Gavin Hudson, Sheffield

Privatisation has not benefited the passengers, the employees or the taxpayers.

Andrew Caven-Atack, Colchester

The division between network and train providers was simply a way to make money for the treasury and for shareholders. Just as BR went, so will the NHS. Let’s reclaim both.

Reg Webb, Colchester

I support the idea of keeping railways in public ownership. Too much profit is taken out by shareholders and not kept in the rail industry for future improvements.

Bill Tymms, Leeds

Bring back British Rail.

Guy Harris, Windsor

It was once ours. Profiteers should not get richer by setting extortionate fares and providing a disgraceful service.

Mark Ross, Mansfield