Ian Davies, EdinburghEast Coast Rail was an exceptionally good service, reasonably priced and making a profit – so why hand it over to private enterprise?
Mehdi Mir, SheffieldThe government subsidises rail, passengers pay unbelievable fairs and private firms take huge profits.
Stephen Riggott, SouthamptonTake our now totally fragmented national railway out of the hands of the privateers who are exploiting it to the full. Only re-nationalisation will make it work again.
Meg Clements, Newton AbbotRailways should be for the benefit of everyone not just for shareholders. It isn’t meant to be a private profit-making enterprise.
Philip Hart, YorkJust like the buses, the train system with its numerous operators is too complicated and far too expensive. I remember how well it all used to work as an integrated unit.
Richard Brierley, DerbyPrices for train travel have soared through the roof and passengers are penalised financially if they travel at certain times.
Oliver Robinson, LyddI live on a branch line that was cut under Beeching but could easily be brought back as it still exists. Bring back BR!
John Hogg, Co. DurhamBring back clause 4 and scrap new labour.
John Morrow, SunderlandI’m sick of getting ripped off.
Allan Hedley, CumbriaPrivatisation was a very big mistake. It’s just making massive profits for the operating companies which should be ploughed back into the network.
David Leigh, St.AlbansI object to paying for infrastructure that private firms will profit from. Public investment should support public services.
Sandra Barr, StevenageEast Coast trains were a fantastic service and needed to stay in the public sector. How dare this government sell it off to Virgin?
Thomas Stacey, RuthinReturn railways and service industries to public ownership, for the benefit of the people of the UK and not foreign-owned businesses.
Ray Laidlaw, North ShieldsEconomic and reliable rail travel is not a luxury but a requirement for a modern, successful economy. Get rid of the franchises and nationalise the railways.
Phil Owens, LiverpoolPrivatisation has been a ridiculously costly experiment. Everything on the railway now costs multiples of its value due to profits for long chains of contractors.
Emma Anthony, OxfordMake the service a proper one for passengers and not just for shareholders. Also, please never call us customers.
Margaret Campbell, Whitley BayServices are deteriorating rapidly. Stops on Newcastle to Kings Cross have reduced, therefore taking longer to reach destinations, e.g. Letchworth and Stevenage.
Graham Cooksey, CardiffBring back the good old British Rail and get rid of these money-grabbing private companies.
Jamie Osborne, HuntingdonCompetition has just served to raise profits whilst ignoring service and lower standards for commuters. Bring control back to the people.
Alan Miller, CarlisleYes, British Rail, bring it back. Let’s bring it on.
Anne Graham, CarlisleBring back British Rail.
Sam Bailey, LeedsThe trains belong to us – they’ve been stolen by fraudulent thieves.
Steven Palmer, SwanseaThe answer to the failure of privatisation is not more privatisation.
Michael Pruce, LondonStop these private companies ripping us all off with their price rises year in year out. Bring back BR.
Denis Rumbold, LakeProfit should be re-invested, not creamed off and given to shareholders.
Paul Britton, StevenageSeparate companies weren’t working, which is why BR was created in 1948, not working now, and it’s glaringly obvious that it needs to be brought back under one company.
Margaret Powell, LondonThey should never have been sold off.
Linda Ibbetson, WakefieldWe’ve had enough of everything privatised, but especially our railways. Bring back British Rail and stop lining the fat cats’ pockets.
Mike Nagle, WilmslowRe-nationalise the railways, energy and water companies now. Put it in your election policy, Labour, and you will win the election by a mile.
Chris Bright, LondonIf we’re going to subsidise it anyway, I don’t want my taxes going into the pockets of shareholders.