Another example of the rape of this country by Westminster.

Reynold Hutchinson, Berwick-upon-Tweed

BR, when public, employed more people and cost less. Its social value was enormous. Give railways back to their rightful owners.

Robert Ollis

I’m fed up with paying an extortionate amount for poorer and poorer service.

Olivia McNeilis, London

A publicly owned East Coast Line shows how a rail service can make money for the nation and not for the few.

Shaun Reid, South Shields

Privatisation of British Railways should never have come to pass in the first place.

P.J. Wilkins, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

This is far too sensible an idea. Whilst greedy politicians and their greedy back-handing friends exist it will never happen, unfortunately. Good luck all the same.

Sean O’Donnell, Barrow-upon-Humber

East Coast is far better than National Express East Coast or GNER. Do not sell it.

Heather Mann, London

The railways should never have been privatised. It’s all about looking after shareholders and not passengers. Fares are ridiculously expensive and overcrowding worse.

Mark McCabe, Glasgow

Re-nationalisation could be designed to benefit passengers, workers and small/medium size companies as well through fair non-cartel competition. Fewer lazy fat cats.

Steve Goddard, Crawley

The privatisation of British Rail was supposed to benefit the customer. What a laugh. In fact, the new owners are laughing all their way to the bank. Re-nationalise.

John Homer, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Beeching got it wrong in the 60s and the Tories got it wrong in the 90s. We need a unified rail transport system for the UK.

William Paul Brook, Cullercoats

BR wasn’t great but at least their heart was in the right place.

Andy Padgham, London

It should never have left public ownership.

Graham Mallinson, Manchester

The government interferes in things it shouldn’t, but not in things they should. Bring back British Rail!

Joy White, Abertillery

It can’t happen soon enoug. Imagine what a mess this franchising obsession will make of HS2.

Simon Herbert, London

The way things are going with privatisation, there will be no safety left on the railways, with all the job cuts, disasters waiting to happen. I work for them.

Ray Tidd, Southend

Renationalise the railways for the benefit of passengers, employees, and the public now.

Phillip Derisi, London

British Rail should never have been privatised in the first place. Let’s get it back and then set to getting the Royal Mail back too.

Lynne Finn, London

The current system is shambolic. Go to any mainline station where the mixed bag of livery, some even outdated, is a disgrace.

Colin Jarvis, Bedford

As the privatised industry is in receipt of massive public subsidies, it should be returned to the public.

Bruce Van De Gevel, Huddersfield

Bring the railways back under state control and provide a better service to passengers.

Ian Roberts, Telford

The current system doesn’t work for passengers, is more expensive than a state system and is subsidising state railways in other countries. Daft.

Pam McNay, Milton Keynes

Essential services should not be foreign-owned.

Stephen Bailey, Biggleswade

The country should have a proper public transport system.

Steve Ince, Pocklington

Make rail travel affordable to the masses.

Nigel Powis, Coventry

Re-nationalisation is overdue and would cost nothing. It’s time to end the disastrous experiment with our essential public service.

Rick Long

The railways should be there to provide a service for the people, not profits for the rich.

Paul Wood, Sidcup

It is just a joke. We knew it was wrong at the time. Do politicians get anything right?

Kevin Guyatt, Stockport

I’m old enough to remember when it was that way and better. We need a service to serve us.

Trevor Barham, London