Rail privatisation has been a massive con, leaving us with a fractured network and a cabal of companies sucking up public funds for private profit.

Oscar Franklin, Chatham

Southern strikes are showing that the private sector is not more efficient at running the railways.

Peter Lucas

Private rail companies provide inferior service at exorbitant prices. Public transport is just that – public.

Rob Mulholland, Leeds

The sooner, the better.

Sebastian Hughes, Preston

End fragmentation, ridiculous complexity, huge hidden subsidies and profiteering now.

Martin Lakie, Worcester

Value for passengers not profit for financiers.

Sydney Wilmshurst, Caterham

Get the family silver back.

Pat Smith, Brentwood

Bring back British Rail.

Larry Tetteh, London

I have many happy memories of travelling by train with my father as a child. I would love to see the return of British Rail.

Margaret Stritzel, Derby

My husband worked in a once thriving railway industry in York until privatisation in the 90’s destroyed this. So many skilled people became unemployed, it was devastating.

S Toyne, York

Major infrastructure such as the railway system should never be run by private companies. There will always be detriment to the public.

Mark Shaw, Edinburgh

We’ve been taken for a ride far too long.

Ron Ellis, Weston-super-Mare

We the public are sick of private companies ripping off customers. Bring the rail network back under public accountable ownership.

Robert McArdle, Coventry

Rail travel was and is far more efficient and economical when nationalised. Bring back British Rail.

S Nightingale, Nottingham

Rail fares are way too expensive, its disgusting. I’m a family man. Where does it leave people like me ? For someone who doesn’t have a car. I can seldom take the kids out.

Peter Somogyi, Pinner

As it says. Bring back British Rail.

Richard Howard, Sheffield

Yes, something essential as public transport shouldn’t be in private hands, because this sets the wrong goals. It’s “People before Profit” and not the other way around.

Martina Gross, Berlin, Germany

British Rail should never have been stolen from us in the first place. Lousy Tories.

Charles Hemingway, Barnsley

Bring back the railway as a national asset for national advantage – it needs us.

Tom Tibbits

The time is ripe to start taking back the railways. A lot of franchises are due for renewal so don’t renew them.

Jim Stroyan, Huddersfield

I would very much enjoy seeing the railways re-nationalised and I think it would be highly beneficial for the country.

Harry Clements, Medstead

Make it British again. All of these other companies are only in it for the money. Why not take it back, run it at a profit then the money can go back to central government.

Antony Jones, Braintree

Stop the rip-off prices. It’s the most expensive public transport in the EU.

Nicholas Bradley, Exeter

Bring back the blue and grey.

Gym Rotten, Dover

Great idea, about time.

Patrick Hilley, Keighley

Arriva Trains Wales is state-owned – by Germany.

John A K Davies, Haverfordwest

Reduce cars, link towns and villages, create more jobs. This has to be the only way in consideration of the growing population and numbers of vehicles on the road.

Ryan Martin, Poole

Big delays at least 2 or 3 times a week not acceptable.

Thomas Murphy, South Woodham Ferrers

Run the railways as a service like the roads, not a cash cow like banking.

Rob Hague, Derby