The tyranny and the bullshit has gone on too long. I’m tired of paying more for trains than it costs to drive, and so is the environment.

Barney Hallawell, Falmouth

Pay less money to the shareholders.

Thomas Paterson, Manchester

It can be done, if only there is a political will. Do it for the people of Great Britain.

Pier Hausemer, Salisbury

The trains are overcrowded, overpriced and cost the tax payer more than when nationalised. They used to be a bit scruffy but at least you got a seat.

Kay Hallam, Tadley

Control of our rail networks, rolling-stock, etc. should never have been taken out of the hands of the British public. We need an efficient, fair system back now.

Margaret Wilson, Durham

I’ve just returned from Hamburg where I’ve been working for nine months. Trains, buses and ferry services are second to none, all on time and a fair pricing structure.

David Jones, Connah’s Quay

I’ve argued long and hard for this since the mid 1990s.

David Henshaw, Dorchester

I love traveling by train but now, even with my rail card, it is becoming too expensive to use the West Coast and yet the fares still keep rising.

Nick Prince, Staffordshire

The price of getting a train is a joke.

Tim Williams, Birmingham

A national rail system needs to be restored. How Michael Portillo has the nerve to go on European rail journeys and extol the virtues of their systems.

Mark Cowley, Liverpool

It couldn’t be worse than it is now. Where are the bigger trains we were promised 30 years ago? It’s still horrible on our line.

David Williams, Stamford

Just bring it back.

Paul Dickerson, Scunthorpe

Bring BR back. It should be in the nation’s hands, not fat cats’.

Paul Greenwood, Durham

Government should be putting money into the rail infrastructure. It should not be run as a business as the fares are ridiculously high.

Susan Farquharson, Bexhill

I frequently travel by train and have witnessed standards and services reduce as prices increase. The trains should be run as a not-for-profit service for everyone.

Dawn Woolley, Cardiff

No more profits before people.

Sean Fairbrother, Warrington

If we bring back British Rail we can increase our freight and trade in Britain.

Ewan Green

Let’s get rid of this farce of free market idealism gone too far. The person buying the ticket has no choice but to add to the profits of the local monopoly.

Adam Anderson, Sheffield

The railways should be run for the benefit of everyone, not just for a few shareholders. The huge tax-payer subsidies are going straight into their pockets. It’s a rip-off.

Steve McCarthy, St Albans

Simplify fares and concentrate on running reliable trains.

Sue Horne, Brighton

The fat cats are at it again.

Tyso Short, Bedford

Unify the whole system and bring back the “Fat Controller” and put a halt to short-term political gain and profiteering.

Michael Rawson, Stockton-on-Tees

I’m bored with paying to run Europe’s rail network with the profits from ours.

Andrew Stock, Colchester

Bring it back.

Rob Flann, Isleworth

Bring back British Rail. Railways work well abroad. Anyway, all public services should be back in public hands.

Douglas Webber, Godstone

People deserve a safe, reliable rail service that is affordable.

John Farrar, Stoke-on-Trent

Let’s see a return for trains being run as a customer service and not for private profit.

Nick Crago, Harlington

The time has come to undo much of the havoc wrought be the unlamented Margaret Thatcher.

Rob Lucas, Ross-on-Wye

Fast transport ensures easy mobility of people and their goods. In the future it’s important for the Tanzanian government to look upon its railway networks.

Hudson Godwin, Arusha, Tanzania

Privatisation equals putting public subsidy into the pockets of greedy private cartels funding the political elite. Not really what a railway is for.”

Barry Kelly, Market Drayton