The nationalised rail network should never have been privatised. The question of re-nationalisation should be apolitical and this process must happen without delay.

Vernon Hartley, Southampton

Railways should be for the benefit of everyone not just for shareholders. It isn’t meant to be a private profit-making enterprise.

Meg Clements, Newton Abbot

Public transport should be run by the state on behalf of the people.

Paul Taylor, Rickmansworth

My uncle and grand-dad both worked as signalmen on British Rail – so in their memories I’m signing the petition. My uncle said privatisation was the worst thing that ever happened.

Mary Lennon, Manchester

British Rail rules.

Daniel Roberts, Orpington

Privatisation is a right wing ideology that does not work with industries that need to be countrywide and where some areas need to be supported by others.

Bernice Broggio, Gateshead

Let’s have one company, our company, that can co-ordinate and keep things running smoothly, comfortably and cheaply.

Ann Matthews, Consett

Because the ‘free market’ is restricting our freedom of movement, extorting us with impunity, and failing to lift the burden of subsidies from taxpayers.

Ben Twomey, York

Privatisation sells the UK by the pound. Virtually all sales have been made under Tory governments. They’ve all but sold the NHS now.

Bernadette Potts, Manchester

The East Coast line runs right through my town. In fact I live only a few hundred yards from it. I can sit and watch the array of privatised train companies using it.

Robin Braddow, Newark

United Kingdom is the shame of Europe due to expensive transport.

Elaine Savage, Saltburn

If the companies fail we have to bail them out anyway – what’s the point? No private critical infrastructure.

Matthew Hill

It took 24 hours or so to clear trees off the West Coast mainline on Sunday. I was in a taxi from Lancaster to Edinburgh. It was a shambles.

Mark Edwards, Lancaster

The current rail system is a disgrace in price and in service, over-crowded and dangerous.

Vince Wright, Macclesfield

Bring back British rail!

Toby Johnson, Wirral

I come from a family of railway workers. I believe in rail travel. I use the train to commute to work but privatisation has not worked and doesn’t put travellers first.

Emma Louis, Birmingham

BR was the best railway in the world and as a rail fan I want it back.

Aron Buchnea

Bring it back.

Joel Andrews, Newport

Travel is a necessity for livelihood in today’s world. Privatisation gave corporations another stranglehold over ordinary people and is fundamentally wrong.

Ashley Mills, Sturry

If we don’t stick together the fat cats will get fatter. Act now.

Margaret Kearns, Ashton-under-Lyne

It should never have been privatised in the first place.

John Sherwell, Margate

Investment in the service and for those who use it can’t by wasted in dividends.

Jill Sanders, Hampton

As a teen, I wanted to work for British Rail as a public service which was environmentally sound. That chance was stolen from me by the Tories.

Amanda Ure, Leicester

The railways are farcical. Stop this fragmented system and bring back common sense.

Stewart Bramman, Doncaster

Re-nationalisation is well overdue because privatisation is not in the travellers’ interest.

Stephen Cresswell, Liverpool

Bring it back to the people. You know it makes sense.

Mark Nevitt, Sandbach

Private companies are being subsidised for failures and raking in huge profits whilst the average citizen’s fare is being jacked up exponentially. Bring back British Rail.

Robert Bain, Glasgow

Anyone can see that every part of the world needs an efficient, integrated transport system. The UK is small enough to run a national network. Trains are just the start.

Viv Thom, Sheffield

Get it brought back under one controlling body.

Kimberley Walker