Mike Parkinson, HarrowThe brief but successful nationalisation of the East Coast franchise proves that public ownership is best. Down with private profit from our nation’s essential services.
Jimmy McGurk, LivingstonI can remember when British Rail ran things and there were cancellations and late arrivals, but privatisation ruined the service to all but the folk who made a killing from it.
Paul Collinson, ShildonBring it back. Give all of us contractors working away some job security and let us shine to our full potential instead of being stuck as shovel monkeys.
Sue Flint, BristolHigh time, too.
Ivor Salmon, AltonAt the very least the infrastructure of the country should be owned by the people and operated for the benefit of the people.
Stuart Lawes, NewportRenationalise the railways. Run them as a public service, not for someone’s profit.
Joseph O’Sullivan, WareIt’s a bloody liberty.
Louis Graves, StockportStupid and unfair prices. Bring Back British Rail.
Jennie Dell, BrightonWhen I was a child in the 1950s, I frequently travelled by train, Brighton – London return, a one-hour journey on reliably-timetabled trains. 60 years later – nightmare.
David Macklin, ColchesterThe Conservative government of John Major in 1992 did not have a mandate to privatise the railway. Tories are undemocratic.
Richard O’Sullivan, LondonRail fares keep going up and up when services do not get better. This has to stop.
Edmond Bourke, BasildonPublic services should not be in private hands.
Brian Ellison, WiganNever have so many of the British public been conned by so few.
Tim Murphy, PrestonThe prices are out of control.
Naomi Durkin, Cortlandt Manor, New YorkMy dream from when I was in my 20’s was to see Britain by rail — as it had the best railroad system in the World. I hope to still do that some day. Please de-privatise.
Michael Barr, AshteadDown with Thatcher, up the revolution.
Doreen Martin, BarnetSome things just need to be in the public sector.
Paula Hannaby, BelperRail travel for the people, profits returned to the service not shareholders, just like it used to be. Bring back British Rail.
Linda Combi, YorkOf the many British institutions gradually being eroded by private ownership, an affordable and integrated rail system benefits us personally and environmentally.
Gerry McCartney, JohnstoneI’m keen to be involved in local transport campaigns. Please put me in touch with local union and other campaigners.
Gwenno Williams, GlamorganRail travel needs to be nationalised, prices reduced and services improved so that more people will be encouraged to get out of their cars.
Imogen Forster, LondonWe need a publicly-owned railway system.
Ian Sadler, LeedsWhy pay dividends to shareholders when the money would be better spent on renewing the rails and trains?
Michael Williams, GravesendFive times the subsidy of the old BR. I don’t think this is sustainable.
Stan Smith, NottinghamIt should never have been privatised. Public utilities should be just that: of use to the public, not to hedge funds.
Kevin Sparrow, ChepstowI remember when it was all good – a single unified organisation that my family took a pride in. My uncle was a train driver.
Tony Rawlings, WokingAlso red star.
David Latimer, MineheadBR was privatised for one reason only – to take infrastructure owned by the people and put it into the hands of the bankers and fat cats like Branson – total greed!
Phillipa Partington, BedfordA simple, unified rail system with standardised fares has got to be better than the current complicated and still-inadequate rail provision we have.
Thomas Butler, HorshamOver 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.