Now is the time to move forward and build on the past investments to create a real rail network, not a patchwork of unconnected ‘for profit’ companies.

Glynn Huggins, Sevenoaks

Transport to benefit the country should be run for public benefit, not profit. A unified system makes sense.

Moira Garland, Leeds

In the US the push for the privatisation of government functions and services has always resulted in reduced services at higher costs.

Nancy Neal

The sooner the railways are back in public hands the better.

John Blamire, Livingston

I worked for the railways for fifteen years and I left in 1993 as privatisation was coming in. I now cannot afford to travel by train.

Ria Jones

It’s not difficult to see the parallels between the current privatisation of the NHS and what was done to the railways over the space of 20 years.

Emily Townsend, London

Fares too high, no co-ordination with other railways and buses, too much money syphoned off to bosses and shareholders.

David Clemson, Halifax

We need a rail network to service citizens not city banks.

Malcolm George, Wakefield

Smash all privatisation.

John Appelqvist, Scarborough

The tax payer should not pay for foreign companies to make a profit whilst operating at the highest prices in Europe.

Richard Stainton, Hinckley

We should un-privatise everything. I’m fed up with being ripped off by greedy fat cats, and I’m sure I speak for most of us.

Stephen Fairweather, Norwich

Far, far too much is worried about making money and lining a few people’s pockets, not improvement in service.

Bruce Wembridge, Bristol

It simply hasn’t worked for the people who use the service.

Ianwit Thorpe, Torpoint

The prices are ridiculous in the south. Just because I pass through London doesn’t mean I should pay an arm and a leg.

Kyle Moriarty, Hampshire

Bring it back.

William Clark, Brandon

Privatisation rarely works. Services best run centrally get broken up and become innately inefficient. Worse, the government tries to absolve itself of responsibility.

Anthony Vann, Holmfirth

Public money goes to Train Operating Companies as subsidies and shareholders’ dividends vanish offshore. How is the current set-up not out and out illegal?

R Sutherland

Privatisation can only work within the context of customer choice. Rail companies are not forced to improve performance or value, because they monopolise the railway infrastructure in the UK.

Peter Kasim, London

Why are we playing subsidies to companies when we can run a train company at a profit for the country ourselves?

R B, Huddersfield

This has to be done. No more big profits from robbing the people who pay Fares.

Peter Forster, Haltwhistle

Unified 1948, broken 2017.

Matthew Haynes, Winchester

Governments in other countries recognise the value of public ownership of railways. The Labour Party should make it their policy.

Cheryl Jones, Sheffield

The railways should be run as a public service, not for private profit.

Norman Fellows, Confolens

Bring back British Rail.

Anne Elizabeth Plowman, Sheffield

The rail industry needs to be back in the hands of the public purse and not the money-making private sector.

Ian Fincher, London

Despite my being only 14, I strongly feel that privatisation should have never happened.

Max Ganesh, Sherborne

You know it makes sense.

Sheila Sheppard, Milton Keynes

I am fed up with stupid pricing and restrictive tickets, which just line the pockets of transport conglomerates like Arriva.

John Hurley, Gloucestershire

Nottingham station closed for six weeks, so they cancel services to Beeston and Long Eaton as well.

Andy Steen, Nottingham

I totally agree with this idea of providing the country with a public rail service as opposed to providing ever increasing profits to rich fat cats.

Stella Yates, Warminster