Too much of our country has been sold off without consultation with us.

Sandra Cotterell, Ross-on-Wye

If we get British Rail back, can we have it red please?

Alistair Redman-Bayasi, Sheffield

It’s time to end the culture of private profits but socialised losses and subsidies.

Ashwin Vyas, Bingley

Ticket prices are now so high that they will force commuters off the trains. Please re-nationalise the railways and run them as a public service.

Alison Smith, Hove

This needs to happen sooner rather than later. Current Train Operating Companies are draining the government and the passengers.

Kris Douglas, Stoke-on-Trent

It’s disgraceful that when the government does get hold of a franchise – i.e. East Coast, they can’t wait to float it despite making a profit on it.

Gordon McMillan, Huntingdon

What a great big mistake privatising the railway. It’s another money making opportunity.

Simon Joseph Evans, Bishop Auckland

Efficient public transport is not a market product for customers to fight over. It is basic requirement of a prosperous and civil society.

Mike Bellion, Sedbergh

British Rail cost the taxpayer half a billion a year. Today, the rail network costs us £5 billion. A stunningly successful privatisation then!

Paul Manzotti, West Midlands

Network Rail has been a pivotal downfall in transportation and commuting in this country for far too long.

Thomas Lloyd-Mead, Bournemouth

It’s imperative that all passenger services are put back into public ownership, that ticket prices are halved and investment doubled.

Quinn Ellis, Nottingham

Public transport should be made cheaper, to stop the roads from being grid-locked.

Andrew Little, Cambridge

Progress hasn’t been made with privatisation, just big mistakes like the Virgin franchise. BR was when we had and are going to get real progress.

Jack Plumb, Colchester

I am a mature, serious railway enthusiast, widely travelled on our railway system and have been a supplier to the industry for many years. Re- nationalisation is essential.

Alan Dobbins, Barnet, Herts

Why are our train operating companies now owned by bus companies and French and German state railways – not our Government?

Kirk Martin, London

I am one of many regular passengers who would prefer the rail network in the UK to remain in British hands and not go into the hands of private companies from abroad.

Dee Boyle, York

It’s an irony that most of our trains are operated in some form by a state railway, but it’s just not our state. If we are going to be like this, why not make it Britain’s Railways?

Tom Gibbs

Let’s put the British back into our railways.

Raymond Byers, Sheffield

Privatisation has given us a very expensive and inefficient way of travelling. It never worked and never will.

Peter Dillon, Sheffield

British Rail should never have been privatised and, if at all possible, should be re-nationalised

Patricia Sever, Birmingham

After BR, can we do water, electricity, gas, and buses please?

Paul Grayshan, Leeds

Please keep the tracks in public hands. It isn’t perfect but it’s so much better than the private alternative.

Alan Cox, Edinburgh

The railways should be run for the benefit of the community and not to make profit for shareholders and pay huge salaries to the directors.

Angela Barker, Wigan

I’m tired of expensive train tickets. People should be able to visit all the beautiful parts of our country for less, encouraging people to spend money in those parts.

Anuj Bhatt, London

Since we are paying billions every year to subsidise fat cat pay and shareholder dividends we might as well own it.

John Maynard, Harrogate

I am just fed up with the so-called private companies doing a so-called good service. Rubbish. Bring back British Rail.

Andrew Hewland, Brighton

Too many services have been axed making it difficult to go on what should be simple journeys without several changes.

Maureen Price, Hartlepool

The East Coast line has proved that it can work and would work. Also they should kick this high speed rubbish in touch as well.

Joseph Bown, Chesterfield

We need a national rail operator. In a small way East Coast Trains have shown what high standards can be achieved outside the private sector.

David Pardy, Christchurch