It’s time this fiasco was ended and the country’s backbone run at cost to make us a world leader.

Lee Gibson, Lincoln

No state subsidies for private operators to get rich at our expense.

Richard Royle, Lancaster

If private enterprise can/will not run Railtrack/Network Rail, why should it operate the profit-making parts and hold fare-payers to ransom for an essential service?

Richard Gillanders, London

I am from Austria and Britain needs British Rail.

Tim Rauscher, Wien

There’s nothing as important as getting our people to work. Rail travel should be owned and run by the people for the people.

Simon Walsworth, London

The only way to have a unified rail system and cheaper fares.

Anthony Dent, London

Save the planet. Give us a better public transport system.

Mark Parsons, Bristol

I’ve signed this petition to object to fat cat executives making huge profits from privatisation. Where is the promised investment? Bring back affordable fares.

Catherine Heard, Beckenham

British Rail should be for the people not for getting fat cats fatter,

Derrick Jones, Stockton-on-Tees

Some of us are old enough to remember the railways used to run a lot better than they do now, and it was affordable for everyone. We need to take it back.

Rita Stroud, Ipswich

It may have had its faults but BR was more economical about funding.

Andy Cordwell, Biggleswade

Why is socialism so bad for people when it’s clearly the best thing for business?

Peter Britten, Farnham

After leaving school and joining British Rail it was supposed to be a career for life not just till 1998. What happened ?

Chaz Coupland, Basingstoke

It’s a disgusting state of affairs.

Jacqueline Kennett, Sidmouth

We need to combine modern-day quality of trains with BR style joined-up service, punctuality and value for money.

Peter Henderson, Worthing.

Everything that was ever nationalised before Thatcher sold it should be re-nationalised.

Dawn Farrier, Nottingham

All of our services should be nationalised, owned by the people for the people. Private companies should not be making profits from our utilities or transport.

Eleanor Milton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Rail privatisation had everything to do with deluded ideology and nothing to do with efficiency or public service. That wrong needs to be righted as soon as possible.

Peter Chester, Saltburn-by-the-Sea

We need a service controlled by the people for the people.

Kevin Johnson, Norwich

A rail system that serves the people of Britain – not rips them off.

Timothy Williams, Colwyn Bay

An essential service should not be run for profit but as a service.

Lorna Robertson, Surrey

An utter shambles is privatisation. Not run for the passengers but only to line the pockets of shareholders and overpaid managers, of which there are far too many.

Alan Frost, Bedford

I believe we should take the key utilities and infrastructure back into public ownership.

Ben Moore, Alnwick

Rail needs to be subsidised by the government. Prices have become ridiculous when compared to incomes, and inflation. As a tax payer I feel, used and abused.

Jacqueline Wilson, Herne Bay

The prices are beyond a joke. An end to privatised railway services must come.

Christopher Thomson, Chelmsford

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

John Hurley, Gloucestershire

Railways should be run for the benefit of passengers not profits to line the pockets of fat cat directors.

Greg McLean, Falkirk

We have been left with a debt-ridden sham of a railway network, with ludicrously inflated fares, which get us nothing but the poorest services.

Gavin Dean, Manchester

Welcome back British Rail.

Maureen Brookman, Sutton, Surrey

Too expensive and too inefficient. How can anyone be allowed to profit from this?

Christopher Thomas, London