Ticketing is a nightmare and needs to be simplified and rationalised in a comprehensive national system.

Keith Davidson, Hemel Hempstead

I couldn’t agree more. These franchises are run as businesses and not as a public service.

David Treadgold, Purfleet

The current rail structure is lunacy with no real competition anyway. I believe there are 23 companies responsible for different aspects of safety etc.

Kevin Webb, Accrington

It’s about time Britain was made Great again. Key infrastructure like railways should be for the public, not for shareholders and profiteers.

Anthony Martin, Exeter

All privatised companies and services should be re-nationalised. We the public are getting ripped off and there is no competition with any of them. It’s immoral.

Sian Megginson, Middlesbrough

Privatisation has lost the unique ’rounded’ service previously provided by lifelong railway workers with cross department co-operation and were ‘proud to belong’.

Tom Cloughton, Darlington

Privatised rail still relies upon public money as well as fares, so only the profit has been privatised, not the cost.

Daniel Miller, London

A public service does not have to make a profit. If it does, it certainly shouldn’t be given to private shareholders. The profit should be re-invested for the public good.

Chris Molyneux, Nottingham

Over the last year I’ve been unable to take the train when I’ve needed to due to cancellation, strikes and malfunctions. It’s insanely expensive too.

Thomas Butler, Horsham

Public Transport should be owned and managed by the public, for the public as a public service and always on a not-for-profit basis.

Shirley Stott, Brighouse

Put the railways back into public ownership. It will save money and save tax-payers’ money.

Joan Sanger, Beckingham

Keep East Coast nationalised and add the rest of the network as it becomes available.

Maggie Cochrane, York

Expensive, unreliable, worn out stock, needs central control across the board. Take away from the franchisees who are only interested in their bottom line.

Elaine Whybrow, Dartford

Privatisation was a disaster. All it brought was private profit with the public paying more. Electricity should be re-nationalised too.

William Edmonds, Huddersfield

Essential transport which is privatised, inefficient and too costly is contributing to hardship and increased expense for ordinary working people.

Jennifer Fulton, Edinburgh

There are certain services that should be run on a not-for-profit basis because people rely on them, e.g. water, gas, electricity and transport.

Frank Smith, West Bromwich

Correct the disastrous selling-off of our national infrastructure.

Matthew Whale, London

I am appalled by the sky-rocketing price of travel, the most expensive in all of Europe. It’s disgusting.

Charles Honderick, London

I lived in the U.K. from 1971 to 1988 and still miss British Rail every time I am back in the country on a visit. I hope you’re successful, but it will be a long road.

Barrie Pederson, Toronto

Our fragmented rail system does not work. Bring back a National Transport System.

Christine Ogilvie, Bexley

One railway with profits back into running the railway.

Jonathan Heeles, York

It’s about time they brought back British Rail and realised that competition is horrible for the passenger.

Richard Rankin, North Humberside

After leaving school and joining British Rail it was supposed to be a career for life not just till 1998. What happened ?

Chaz Coupland, Basingstoke

Britain needs an efficient, unified, real service run to provide a high quality service, not an over-priced, disjointed railway system run for profit at our expense.

Julia Taylor, Leicester

I’m disgruntled with a sub-par train service.

Can Gencer, Twickenham

Yes Bring Back British Rail.

Charles Lewis, Edinburgh

As a public service, the railways should belong to the people and any profits go into the public purse, not to make the rich richer.

David Butcher, Luton

Because it is right to do (ex BR employee).

Lewis Torrington, Christchurch

Stop politicians messing with our national assets – rail, NHS and the utilities.

William Walker, Peterborough

Just getting rid of London Midland would be an improvement.

Claire Richards