People, not profit.

John Walker, Bradford

Our rail network and the trains that run on it should be part of our basic national infrastructure, run for the common good.

Simon Hargreaves, Matlock

I’m sick of paying all these backroom boys for being incompetent with their franchise biddings. Let’s have more money spent locally employing people in our stations.

Rhona Wyer, Upper Bangor

End the travesty of rail franchising and the burden on this country of false promises and devious commercial practice.

David Nicholas

If we want environmentally friendly transport, we need the railway, electrified and redeveloped.

Robin Draper, Walsall

Our railways cost us more in subsidy. Running and upgrading them is more expensive and millions are siphoned off in profits. Look at East Coast for proof of this.

Chris Purser, Thirsk

It feels as if it’s all disintegrated. Make it function properly by joining up the pieces.

Sylvia Webb, Sunbury

Unified operations, coherent fares please.

J Anslow, Manchester

The railways are run inefficiently and profit is the only motive. We the taxpayers are funding these profits and sustaining these companies.

David Oxberry, Gateshead

Yes please – a properly joined-up rail network service.

Deirdre Carlisle, Dumfries

Bloody stupid idea to privatise it in the first place.

Bob Bryson, Edinburgh

Public transport should be run not for profit but as a self sustaining affordable means of travel.

Mike Friend

Service not profit!

Adam Bloy, London

It is time all this privatisation stopped. There should be institutions looked after by a civil service.

Pat Ingram, Exeter

British Rail means getting there on time and at a fair price. Bring back what should never have gone.

Michael Rowland-Hill, Orpington

It’s a terrible service: short form trains, technical problems every day, standing room only, new timetables. Appalling.

Steven Baker, Oxfordshire

It’s bloody obvious.

Paul Hernon, Llangollen

These prices are too expensive. We are being made fools of by the rail companies and the government that allows them to continue. It’s pricing people out of London.

Anthony Kahwati, Bearsted

The recent East Coast line experience shows it’s the only way to run the railways.

Garry Martin, Sheffield

The prices are out of control.

Tim Murphy, Preston

Private companies messed it up once. Nationalised it had its faults, but this re-privatisation is a disaster. The only investment in our railways is still public.

Jon Carver, Bedford

Bring back British Rail.

Mark Whittaker, Nottinghamshire

It should be part of society and not a money cow.

Charles Scott, Falkirk

I would like to see BR brought back into service. All the current train liveries have confused me.

Damian Gevaux, Buckley

The railways have been messed about since the 90s. Connex and Southern are both awful. BR might not have been great but it was a damn sight better than this.

Victor Meldrew, Shoreham-by-Sea

Time to take back the railways.

Graeme Kemp, Telford

I work for one of the unpopular train companies operating in the UK, and the vast majority of frontline staff want BR to return. Obviously upper management don’t.

Gary Hale, Evesham

The current shambles is a rip-off too far. They wouldn’t stand for it anywhere else in the EC – why should we?

Stephen Goulden, Sheffield

We must bring back British Rail. It costs more to go on the train to Scotland than it does to fly anywhere in Europe.

Richard Capeling, Rochester