The current system offers a deplorable and unaffordable service. Bring back British Rail.

Gerry Smith, Tunbridge Wells

Obviously, you have all forgotten that British Rail was never on time, equally expensive and passengers were treated as an unnecessary nuisance.

Jonathan Dimsdale, Harrogate

Privatisation has not worked.

Stuart Gray, Trowbridge

This is what we need to do, to make our railways beautiful again and the envy of the world.

Sharon Draper, Sudbury

The same management consultants, McKinsey, who planned rail privatisation are doing the same to NHS.

Gurdave Gill, Sidcup

Franchising doesn’t work. How can operators on different routes provide competition? Thatcher idiocy.

Ged Moore, Jarrow

A return to the days of a national service run not for profit. If only.

Ben Illis, Brighton

Fares are too high. The system needs to be run for the public.

Alex Shearman, Solihull

By the people for the people.

Sarah Haworth, Devon

We pay out millions in subsidies, so that shareholders get a dividend every year.

Timothy Sercombe, Exeter

I believe that it is very important to have a unified, not-for-profit railway sytem to provide travel at reasonable cost..

Derek Bibb, Glasgow

The best railways are the state-owned ones. Why let private companies take the money which could be going to back into the Treasury?

Helena Richards, Allanton

I’m fed up with being half an hour late every day. The Southern main line needs massive investment. SWT have made it clear they won’t do it. Maybe BR would.

Simon Wragg, Brockenhurst

Re-nationalise the railways. They are a public service and can be run more efficiently in the public interest than for private profit.

Paul Greening, Dorchester

End this madness! Make train prices fair.

James Forber, Warrington

BR may not have been perfect, but at least it got people to their destination, with very limited government funds.

Paul Johnson, Chelmsford

Please make our railway one again. Ever since the fragmentation passengers have become secondary to profits. I think safety issues will be a higher priority then.

Josie Wassall, Birmingham

A nationalised rail might mean I’ll actually pay a decent price for a ticket.

Sam Townson, London

Another national asset sold off for the profit of the fat cats who support the Tory party.

Jane McGrath, Bradford

Rail for the people. not for rich to profit from.

Michael Burn, Sunderland.

I wasn’t around when British Rail was running, but when I see other European countries with railways of a quality almost unrecognisable to us in Britain, I want BR.

Peter Staker, Edinburgh

There is no point in continuing the botched model, as rushed through Parliament in1994.

Phil Crumpton, Smethwick

Dismantling British Rail has led to chaos.

Bill Tasker, Liverpool

It’s crazy that something as complex as a railway system should be so fragmented. France and Germany own bits of ours but run theirs as national entities.

Ed Dougall, Bury St. Edmunds

Privatisation has meant a worse, more expensive service, in prettier uniforms, with less pay for the workforce while a few directors pocket enormous sums.

Tom Fraser, Edinburgh

If they are privatised, why are they subsidised?

Felicity Webster, Kingston-upon-Thames

Do we not owe this to the future generations? I miss the scene of an InterCity liveried train whizzing past the rural coastlines. British Rail all the way.

Alex Lewis, Bangor

The rail system needs to be re-nationalised.

Philippa Jane Brown, Stoke-on-Trent

Privatisation is a capitalist farce that benefits shareholders to the detriment of the average passenger. Bring back British Rail!

Senthil Kumaran Raja Kumar, Bournemouth

It’s taken nearly two decades to realise how important the country’s rail network is to our national fortunes.

Aaron M, East Sussex