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

The carriage works in York were closed at the time of privatisation and rail fares are far too high. A bloody disgrace.

Malcolm Law, York

The theft that was their nationalisation continues to rob us daily. This must end.

Richard Keel, Glasgow

The people of the British Isles require a nationalised rail service which brings affordable transport to its people.

Johnny Gomes, Sudbury

Free tea and coffee is a must for the British traveller.

Helen Behagg, Kettering

I miss BR. I could travel across the country in slack time for peanuts and now I need a computer just to sort out how to get there and how much it will cost me.

Tony Nicholson, Southampton

As someone who worked on the railway, what was once a reasonably good network

Tim Williams, Slough

we need consistent investment not rely on run down stock.uk railways are a joke compared with Europeans.

Cathy Scoffield, Barnstaple

Bring the ownership of British Railways into the hands of the people.

Samuel Moini, Milton Keynes

Privatisation has been a complete and expensive shambles. Bring back British Railways.

Fred Manning, Maidstone

Railways are a service and not for private profit.

Richard Hart, Bromley

For too long, far too much public-funded subsidy has been given to the privatised rail companies and Network Rail, whilst Margaret Thatcher starved BR. Bring back BR now.

Chris Roffey, London

Our public transport and utilities should belong to the people and should never have been sold off for private gain.

Jerry Jacobsen, Forres

Surely you can give up a few Trident submarines so that the people can have a reliable train service.

Gareth Bryant, Newport, Gwent

Listen to the people.

Michael Perre, Paddington

Privatisation has increased prices, reduced quality, reliability and customer service, caused confusion and chaos and prevented re-investment.

Jan Dyer, Malvern

An integrated system with a common-user rolling stock pool is a must for an efficient railway system.

James Woodman

Shareholders want their pound of flesh, but they don’t want to know about the debts accrued. Why aren’t the shareholders pursued to clear the debt?

John McGuigan, Glasgow

Bring back BR. Let the money be spent on the service, not on the lawyers and accountants.

Clive Simmons, Bournemouth

Late trains, missed connections daily. There must be a better way. Expensive fares, yet taxpayers have to subsidise their dividends.

Angelo Servini, Haywards Heath

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

R B, Huddersfield

It’s not all about profit.

Tony Wilmot, Birmingham

The West Country train line is a disgrace. I run a business in Somerset and often have to visit London in reaction to solving a last minute problem and it’s cheaper by car.

Richard G. Mitchell, Shepton Mallet

I have to live with Southern Rail every day. They are terrible. I want a system that is primarily about serving passengers, not shareholders.

Ashley Wells, Loughborough

Railways for people and our environment, not profit for the elite.

Clive Swinsco, Sheffield

I loved British Rail. Bring it back now.

Chris Lovett, Charlwood, Surrey

Undo Thatcherism and bring back all the services she and Major robbed from the public sector.

John Hanbury, Manchester

Bring back British Rail as it was the best the railway ever and best it has been for a long time.

Anthony Bonner, Ashford

I look forward to being able to travel anywhere with one company, without lining the shareholders’ pockets.

Joan Harrison, St Albans