About bloody time, every rise in rail fares is subsidising profits for these fat cat owners in their own countries. Re-nationalise now.

Don Beattie, Middlesbrough

Privately-owned and operated railways do not put the passengers first. Re-nationalise now.

Robert Hicks, Hardwicke

Privatisation has failed – fragmented services, high fares, health and safety issues, fewer staff and worse to come. No to private profit, Yes to public benefit.

Carrie Hedderwick, Sheffield

You cannot run a national network by splitting off the different parts. This privatisation was all a lie anyway, aimed at just making vast sums for the few.

John Margetts, Reading

For all its faults, the old BR was a unified system, with unified investment, timetables and fare schemes. It was far superior to and cheaper than the mess we have now.

Andy Thomas-Emans, Folkestone

Transport should be for the benefit of the public – not for private profit.

Derek Gardner, Peterborough

Private companies receive more in subsidies than BR ever did, but is the service any better? No.

David Henderson, Birmingham

We’re putting billions into the pockets of fat cat executives and foreign companies in exchange for the most expensive rail system in Europe. Things need to change.

Christopher Old, Hemel Hempstead

UK railways are in a shocking state.

Mark Kapalo, Telford

The TOCs are inherently dysfunctional – they operate local monopolies with no incentive to improve services, and have no interest in saying a word against Network Rail.

John Paylor, London

Buying the correct tickets for the correct journey is a minefield and I have many other complaints.

Anne Hugh-White, St. Austell

Via subsidies, the rail companies are partly nationalised already – the East Coast mainline proves how it can be done properly.

Andy Butler, Northallerton

We have such a poor service for the ridiculous price we pay. If something is a national service, it should not be private. It’s as simple as that.

David Netherwood

My dad worked for British Rail and we were proud of it.

Sharon Bestley, Portsmouth

It should never have been privatised in the first place.

Dave Murray, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Rates by private companies are disgusting. Its cheaper to drive which should not be the case.

Dylan Evans, Market Harborough

For a saner, more integrated rail system, bring back British Rail.

Michael Wynne, Hove

The whole ‘profit for the few’ mentality is ruining the lives of many.

Daisy Mudhead, Stevenage

We know it makes sense.

Richard Desjardins, Ashby de la Zouch

We need a train service run for passengers not shareholders.

Steve Yeates, East Sussex

Bring back British Rail.

Susan Walsh, Boston

Cheap railways are needed to get cars off the road. Rail use is too expensive at present.

Colin Tosh, East Boldon

Overpriced and overcrowded – stop the profiteers.

Robert Marriott, Toddington

There are too many train operators who have a monopoly over the rail network such as First Group. On some lines the trains are not long enough. X-Country take note!

Charlie Bryant, Sheffield

We would have a better and cheaper railway if it was re-nationalised.

Fran Waight, Hertford

The rail system needs to be brought back into public ownership. Private companies have lumbered from one disaster to another. It’s not value for money.

Martin Tolley, Ipswich

It’s nonsense that the railways should be run using the present model – it simply does not work. Re-nationalise now.

Jim West, Derby

Please bring it back as service sucks on a daily basis.

Nick Chincotta, Eastbourne

East Coast Line is excellent – all our railways should be run by the country for the country.

Sheena Ratcliffe, Richmond

Bring back British Rail and bring back national rail engineering to support it.

Karen Springer, Derby