I use rail services all the time and the cost is ridiculous. Train users are being robbed. Nationalisation is the only answer to ensure us a fair deal.

Sophie McKeand, Wrecsam

The present system is costing the taxpayer more than British Rail did.

David Hunt, Nottingham

Just bring back British Rail.

Jean Gilliard, Bexley

Words escape me.

Paul Burgess, Torquay

The government has just privatised East Coast, which will inevitably end in disaster like the other failed attempts before. It was making a massive profit in public hands.

Bradley Sansom, Bradford

How can a billionaire like Richard Branson truly care about everyday people?

Daniel Sharples, Warrington

Vote Labour.

Alex Harvey, Wantage

Chris Grayling has now conceded that the trains and the tracks need to be operated by the same entity. Therefore, nationalisation is now imperative.

Kayla Ente, Brighton

At 70years old I have lived through both and it was better with no shareholders’ profits to worry about with all profits going to the Treasury to make our lives better.

Brian Hanchett, Norwich

I remember the old BR which was a lot better than the service we have now, as it’s very confusing (different tickets etc.) trains are late and more expensive.

Doug Bate, Essex

British Rail must be a public service run by a public not a private company.

Fiona Ruth Law, York

First Capital Connect London to Brighton service is dreadful. Old trains, noisy, rattley, uncomfortable, freezing cold or baking hot. It’s a complete rip off.

Jim Allen, Brighton

They would be better in getting there than some of the others (apart from c2c.)

John Seager, Basildon

Privatisation of the British Rail network has been a disaster. Nationalisation has the potential to lower fares, increase accountability and democratise the network.

Geoff Goodwin, London

The railway infrastructure and all other infrastructure should be owned by the state as, for example, in France.

Liz Yates, High Wycombe

Privatisation made UK rail fares the most expensive in Europe.

J G Smid, Wansford

Time to ring the changes and scrap the private companies.

Graham Weeden, Bedford

To help bring about environmental change and a better rail network.

Thomas Sargent, Ingoldmells

Bringing back public ownership of the rail network would work much better, creating affordable fares and sufficient staffing, not compromising safety for profit.

Tracey Ward, Derby

Railways are the property of the British public like all infrastructure. Utilities should be not owned and plundered for profit by fat cats who pay no taxes.

James Dawn, Gloucester

East Coast is being run successfully, and I enjoy travelling with them and making a profit.

Keith Dibb, Leeds

Current rail travel prices are far too high.

Sharon Durant, Wallsend

I just found you today. I want it back in public ownership too, wishing you all the best.

Keith Green, London

The railways are in desperate need of being re-nationalised as the privatisation of the railways has caused a variety of issues for the public.

Kieran Smith, Poole

We need a national railway network that the whole nation can be proud of – not the shambolic mess that we have now.

Richard Smith, Bungay

Privatisation has led to the awful destruction of our national resource of rail side forests and vital wildlife corridors, by the environment vandal Network Rail. Save our trees.

Frankie Hewett, Canterbury

Northern rail are a joke with late and cancelled trains all the time. Privatisation never works.

Paul Regan, Manchester

Disgusting that foreign companies are shortlisted to run Welsh trains following Brexit. Let’s have a British company trading as British Rail.

Liz Humphreys, Oswestry

I’m fighting for this in the Green Party, standing for Euro elections and this will be a campaign issue.

Shirley Ford, South Shields

We need a rail system that looks after the public, not share holders as at present.

Allan Precious, Billingham