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

I’m sick of getting ripped off.

John Morrow, Sunderland

British Rail I miss you!

Ian Crockford, Birmingham

Keep it simple. One railway operator and save all the billing charges and lawyers’ costs.

Judith Hodgson, Liverpool

West Country transport at risk. We need railways.

Christine Clements, Truro

East Coast is working well – keep it public.

Julia Charlton, Newcastle upon Tyne

Transport for people not profiteers.

Ruth Hirschfield, Liverpool

I love Virgin who have the west coast franchise. Their service is excellent – trains comfortable and staff outstanding. However, the rest is a mess.

Hazel Mayamba-Kasongo, Chester

East Coast is a good example.

Roger Greeff, Sheffield

We shouldn’t assume that private firms who are running the trains are always well run. Some are badly run and know that the government will step in when they fail.

Anna Brazier, Bradford

God protect us. Have you ever tried to buy a ticket via the Indian telephone No? It’s a nightmare.

Alan Marshall, Boston

Let’s make it the end of the line for Branson, Stagecoach and all the other shysters who are ripping off the travelling public.

Bert Schouwenburg, Walthamstow

British Rail, built for the people to travel; for work or enjoyment. We should not be subject to exploitation and high fares. The Tories sold it. We want it back.

Oliver Hughes, Liverpool

Privatisation was never going to succeed. It failed as a privatised industry when first created and it will fail again.

Robert Bergh, Ipswich

We, the taxpayers, pay far more in subsidies to the railways than ever under BR, even allowing for indexing. Subsidies used to fatten the wallets of TOC shareholders is crazy.

David Smallwood, York

The Government proved on the East Coast line that the railway makes a lot of money so why are they giving it away?

Wendy Gibson, Brigg

Railways for people and our environment, not profit for the elite.

Clive Swinsco, Sheffield

Privatisation does not work. Private companies have failed badly in most aspects of railway activity, including the decimation of the UK’s rolling stock manufacturers.

David Holmes, Leeds

Privatisation is an utter shambles.

Ian Walker, Milton Keynes

I would like to see the rail, water, electricity and gas nationally and not privately owned.

Carole Wheat, Nottingham

No necessary public facilities should be in private hands.

Lorna Matthews, Greenlaw

Considering we have just about the highest train fares in Europe, re-nationalisation would seem to be a wise decision.

Timothy Nicholas Brown, Banbury

Do the right thing. Stop ripping us off and stop telling us the railways were built on the funds of business men. Railways should be state owned.

Tony Logan, Northampton

All utilities should be run by the state for the benefit of the people not shareholders.

Malcolm Ashton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Railways for travellers, not for shareholders.

Barry Barker, Stoke-on-Trent

Re-nationalise the railways. One railway equals safety and reasonable prices, and therefore means that ordinary people can afford to use the trains.

Frances Brown, Cambridge

Bring back national rail. The network should be unified. More and more we see that competition and market forces lead to disunity, crisis and profiteering. Nationalise.

Sam Skinner, London

Rail privatisation has been a spectacular failure, benefiting neither passengers nor taxpayers.

Simon Lowe, Glasgow

British Rail should be kept public and not sold off to those only interested in money.

Kathleen Byrne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Lying thieves at the train operating companies, extorting enormous profits from taxpayers whilst running third world services. It is a scandal.

Thomas McAnea, London