Let’s have it back in our hands so that the profits can be spent improving the service.

Andrew Braithwaite, Keighley

We need the C2C to sort out the Purfleet line. Stop focusing on the main line.

Samantha Bugeja, Essex

Billionaires don’t listen to anyone’s words but their own. Is there any point to this? Derail the City of London if you want social justice.

Steve Anderson, Bristol

Bring me back the cheap days out.

Jonathan Wardley, Plymouth

The Tories run the East coast main line as LNER. Bring back BRITISH RAIL.

Colin Flowerday, Holt

Public Transport should be just that, run for the public by the public, but we have got to get it right. The Germans can do it, so why can’t we?

Suki Jones, Portsmouth

If BR had been given the subsidies that are being given to private companies we could have had the best railway in the World.

Arthur Crawford, Edinburgh

ATW service is at breaking point. Overcrowding is terrifying. We cannot continue to sit quietly and do nothing. I am sick of fighting my way on to stand in the toilet.

S C, Treforest

Same as always – prices are too high, fluctuate too widely and the time-tabling is massively confusing.

Stephen Abel, Leeds

It’s time for people to take the railways back.

Darren Burling, Chester

Privatisation doesn’t work. This fiasco is all the proof we need.

Michelle Hornsey, Leeds

We need cheaper fares and profits ploughed back into the system. Shareholders should be supporting the system now not the taxpayer, unless we re-nationalise the system.

Gareth Williams, Wenvoe

Christian Wolmar calculates that BR cost between £1m and £1.5m and today the railway cost £6m, including the Network Rail Debt. The lunatics are running the asylum.

Barry Reeves, Blaby

The privatisation of our rail service was an expensive disgrace and should be reversed.

Stan Newens, Harlow

It’s obvious. I don’t need to explain.

Callum Godwin, Manchester

Please bring back British Rail so I can return to work on the railways I love.

John Conley

My trains are currently late, noisy, rickety, too cold, too hot, invisible, cramped, unsafe, overcrowded, dirty, unmanned, smelly, expensive and old.

Roy Banks, Featherstone

Privatisation has not worked. Please do the sensible thing and re-nationalise British Railways.

Clive Thorne, Daventry

Bring back British Rail but as part of a socialist economy where all public services are democratically owned by the people.

David Atkins, Wisbech

I come from London but moved away some time ago. I visit friends and family regularly up and down the country and am appalled by the cost and overcrowding. People not private profit.

Daniel Jess, Berlin

Sense should prevail, not greedy governments lining the pockets of their own. It just beggars belief that we had a zero balance when it was sold off.

Rona Hendry, Peterborough

Yes, I agree. Trains should be for the people, not the profiteers. I abhor privatisation of national services.

Gill Oldaker, Shepton Mallet

This needs to happen to stop these companies bleeding money from the railways.

Graham Ross, Bolton

This is a public service. Give it back to the public.

Elaine Dyson, Holywell

One rail network always worked better. Plus the industry could go 24hr to meet today’s demands of work/social gatherings, providing more jobs. Also trains every 20mins.

Tim Shufflebotham, Canterbury

The franchised, privatised railway we have today is a disgrace. Why wasn’t British Rail subsidised to the tune that todays private railways are?

David Potter, Stevenage

East Coast line is encouraging if it could be reproduced throughout the network.

Derek Lowe, Knaresborough

I fully support this idea.

Paul Higgins, Halesowen