Joe Ellis, Herne BayGood petition. British Rail – the good old days.
David Sleet, YorkIf profits can be made by British Rail, they should be ploughed back into the system, not distributed to the already-wealthy shareholders.
Niall McCrohan, LondonIt disgusts me to see that passengers across the country pay so much more for a service which is so much worse than other, state-owned European providers.
Alan Ritchey, WashingtonThe original privatisation was done in indecent haste and was always destined to waste money in a big way. A properly managed and structured British Rail will be better.
Joyce Wood, NorthamptonWe should re-nationalise all our sold-off utilities. No-one asked us for permission.
Justin Hill, ChesterThe current service is terrible, unreliable and expensive!
Angela Brown, Haywards HeathHave one railway company, British Rail, for the safety and ease of travel that we should be able to expect.
Maggie Cooke, LondonThis is ridiculous – the rich get richer at the poor’s expense.
Amy Mason, BrechinA nationalised rail network would reduce confusion and probably work a lot better than it does now.
Geoffrey Skellon, AbergeleA simple journey is now so complex and difficult. The French and Spanish make rail travel so easy and so much more pleasurable, and all state-controlled.
Jonathan Chalcraft, BrightonLet’s get people out of their cars and back onto cheap public transport.
Tom Duffy, CoventryWe need more cohesion, lower prices and an upgraded service.
Tim Gray, GlasgowI just want to be able to get to work. I live in a developed country. Is this really too much to ask? Rail privatisation was the worst idea ever.
Philip Mead, LondonIt’s a no-brainer.
Paul Jones, Worcester ParkTimes have changed. Publicly-run lines have proved successful and profitable. This is almost too obviously the way forward.
Arthur Bond, FromeThe sooner the better. Privatisation has only benefitted the shareholders. Never mind what the passengers have to suffer.
Derek Chapman, FromeThe prices are far too high, with private companies only interested in profit for the shareholders.
Stuart Elms, WorthingCertain things in our society are done best where the ethos of ‘public service’ is paramount, not first making profit so we need to think back to the British Rail of late 80’s.
Paul Herwin, Canterbury£250 Ashford to Birmingham peak. Cheaper to go day before off-peak advance and get hotel. £100 in fact so extra money going to hotel not railway.
Darren Pye, LeedsPassengers before shareholders.
John TaylorI say bring back British Rail because all the private companies are robbing everyone – from those who work on the railway to the passengers.
Sue Brown, Bishops StortfordWe should re-nationalise not only British Rail but the Post Office, the Electricity and Gas companies and London Transport etc.
Stuart Roberts, GodalmingNeed there be a comment? Make rail travel a service again, not a business.
Clive Pritchard, Brighton.Major stole my railway system. l want my trains back.
Howard Elcock, Newcastle-upon-TyneThe fragmentation of the system caused by privatisation is a disaster and fares are too high because of the need to satisfy shareholders.
Matthew Milnes, BingleyThe punctuality rate British Rail achieved in its last year (about 90%) was not matched by the privatised industry for about 15 years, despite the public investment.
Nicholas Townsend, LondonBring it back to the people for the people.
Paul ClemensGet people back on the trains and off the roads with reasonable fares, it has to be cheaper than forever expanding roads.
David Jackson, Stony StratfordThe Will Hutton article (Sunday 24 August, The Observer) makes perfect sense.
Steven EvansSince privatisation took over, rail services are rubbish! Bring back proper train services!