Take it back from companies by asset stripping – just as they would!

Merry Cross, Reading

I saw this in today’s “Grauniad.” Good on you, Ellie.

Richard Wakeford, Cambridge

East Coast mainline is profitable. Apply this template to the other companies and re-nationalise. Nothing wrong with a profitable state-owned system.

Kadam Hussain, Leeds

It’s about time we gave power over train prices back to the people and took the initiative to have more state-owned commodities.

Tim Shields, Chorley

The present system is inefficient and wastes money. It’s time for change.

Michael Heslop, Durham

No privatised railway requirement from the EU, only a separate accounting process. Major (typical tory) conned us. Re-nationalise now. You know it makes sense.

Robert Clark, Poole

Ticket prices have ballooned since privatisation, as every player in the rail industry whacks up the profit margins.

Aaron M, East Sussex

Yes. Privatising was a big expensive mistake.

David Kemball-Cook, St. Albans

Bring back British Rail and keep the profits here.

Dan Harrison, Tynemouth

Make rail travel affordable to the masses.

Nigel Powis, Coventry

No national major utility service should be out of British hands, transport, power, water, national and international security, postal, telecoms etc.

Damon Drion, Durham

Publicly owned buses would be a return to better things as well..

Brian Morton, Redcar

Look to the publicly-owned East Coast railway for how to run an excellent well-costed service.

Jenny Liston, Otley

That was a terrible bodged privatisation in 1995 and needs to be completely reversed.

Alan Hird, Basingstoke

I think it’s disgusting that the prices are increasing yet again.

Dawn Curtis, Reading

The idea is that people get to travel, but who can afford to go anywhere? Surely the economy would improve if it were cheaper to get from A to B.

Mike Kerins, Manchester

A national railway network should be a national asset. A public transport system essential for taking people to work should not be run for private profit.

Keith Jermyn, Watford

Ticketing is a nightmare and needs to be simplified and rationalised in a comprehensive national system.

Keith Davidson, Hemel Hempstead

Re-nationalisation should take place without any compensation to shareholders. They bought what we already own, so should lose their money as if they’d bought a stolen car.

Charlie Monck, Charlbury

British Rail wasn’t perfect but at least you understood the ticket pricing and a single was cheaper than a return.

Elizabeth Richardson, Milton Keynes

Take it back to British Rail.

Christine King, York

Rail needs to be nationalised to bring back unity of railways and maintenance of track. Stop the blame-game and nationalise.

Sylvia Ellis, Coventry

The last train journey I made was a nightmare and the toilets were broken and/or filthy.

Charlotte Moncrieff, Brighton

It sounded like a good idea in theory 30 years ago, but politicians need to admit it has failed in practice.

Antoine Sud, Wimbledon

A fragmented Britain. It needs to be taken back into one company – British Rail. The utilities the same.

Andrew Baron, Ilkeston

I heard about this from Josie Long’s cartoon in the 09/05/2015 Guardian Guide. Go re-nationalisation.

Tom Mawby, London