Bring back BR.

Ian Crombie, Basingstoke

BR cost taxpayers about a third of what the privatised railway does now and was cheaper for passengers too. Nationalise franchises when they expire for greater efficiency.

David Sterratt, Edinburgh

The botched privatisation must be undone. It is wrong that private companies and foreign governments take profits and subsidies from our railways.

Rowland Jones, Bristol

Why privatise a national asset in the first place? – Greed.

Pat Tracey, Fleet

Transport for the people. Allow us to travel safely and cheaply. Bring people back to quality coaches and infrastructure.

Steve Pearce, Thatcham

I totally agree. Bring back BR. Sadly since privatisation the rail network of this country has gone downhill.

Valerie Banks, Clayhall

This would help more than 40% of the population on really low incomes to afford travel, also increase the value of British industry and British travel.

Andrew Blakeway, Glasgow

I miss British Rail porridge.

Iain Ward

A public owned railway will help to provide good rail services rather than private profits which is something that needs to change.

Jacob Tyne, Newton Abbot

I have thought for years that BR should never have been privatised. See Private Eye for our messed-up railways.

Hilary Warr, Holmes Chapel

We should be called travellers not customers and the railways should be run for the benefit of us all, not just for shareholders.

Daphne Hibberd-Franks, Leeds

Let’s go forwards not backwards. It worked for us when BR was running from the 50s to the late 80s.

Ian Cook, Manchester

This lot would sell their own grannies.

Jayne Turner, Cardigan

Bring back British Rail.

Stuart Bogue, Alton

De-nationalisation of the railways has not worked. Pouring more money in is not the answer. We’ve paid for it so now reclaim ownership.

Susan Ashby, London

End the national disaster of rail privatisation now, and give us back a state transport service for the people.

Paul Prescott, Leicester

It’s a national railway. Make it nationalised.

Steve Beech, Machynlleth

Taxpayer money built the rails and now we’re just getting ripped off by the companies that own the concessions.

Marc Brammer, Glasgow

Fares have recently increased dramatically in the last few years for no obvious reason and it is ridiculous.

Rosalie Rogers, Eastleigh

The nation that gave railways to the World, has given away its railways.

Ken Lee, Truro

The East Coast rail service is running well. I think re-nationalising the rest of the rail network would result in cheaper fares and improved safety for passengers.

Clare Brennan, Edinburgh

On leaving school in 1957 I worked for British Rail for 14 years. Whilst it wasn’t perfect, it was affordable for working people. It was privatised and everyone knows the rest.

Gerry And Brenda Leach, Leeds

Privatisation has caused all costs across the board to rise beyond affordable.

Mia Carr, Glasgow

BR was better – not perfect, but better..

Nikki Doyle, Nottingham

Rail services must remain in the hands of the government, to achieve transparency and accountability.

Dawn Jackson, Durham

Privatisation and franchising has cost the taxpayer more than a publicly run service would, with no improvement in services.

Rob Hammond, Brighton

I support re-nationalisation.

J W, Gloucester

Have one railway company, British Rail, for the safety and ease of travel that we should be able to expect.

Angela Brown, Haywards Heath

History shows that privatisation fails. Nationalised services are proven to serve us better.

Roger Distill, St Albans

I’m tired of a Trabant service at Rolls Royce prices. We need a nationalised railway run for the benefit of people, not profit.

Ian Westbrook, Folkestone