The railways were invented here. We should be able to take pride in an excellent system that puts people first and is economical too.

Carol Newmarch, Middlesbrough

Public monies will be required in the event of railway company failure, so it’s best to assume public ownership now.

Nicholas Flynn, Croydon

One of the main reasons I took early retirement from my job as a train driver was privatisation. Profits now come before safety, in my opinion.

Colin Dye, Stanstead Abbotts, Ware

Re-nationalise and allow private investment with the state as the majority shareholder.

David Cooper, Bradford

Good idea.

Paul Ransom, Lewes

We may have newer trains with WiFi, aircon etc., but overall we pay dearly for a worse service. Nearly £70 for a peak day Travelcard from Canterbury to London!

Steve Linter, Canterbury

We are fed up with all these fat cats which are lining their pockets with lots of money. Let the people run the railways and you will see the improvements they bring.

Claudia Bultman, Gravesend

Current rail travel prices are far too high.

Sharon Durant, Wallsend

It is so wrong that individuals should make a profit out of the railways. They are an essential part of our social infrastructure and should be funded by the state.

Chris Jones, Banbury

I worked happily for 20 years for British Rail. Staff morale plummeted during privatisation and many good and knowledgeable people left, including myself.

Richie Brown, Warrington

I would love to be able to take my son on a train to London in the same way as my parents took me. We need a public transport system.

Eira Short, Rochdale

We have the highest rail fares in Europe. Do we need another reason to re-nationalise the railways? In support of the Green Party.

Alys Penfold, Bournemouth

It’s time we all stopped being fleeced by big business.

Michelle Strange, London

The railway system is the life-blood of the country and, like all public services, should be nationalised.

Peter Cockings, Kettering

I agree – bring it back to get rid of rip-off prices.

Ashley Jones, Bristol

Trains are for the public good, not private profit.

Arun Prathapan, Chingford

The East Coast Mainline before Virgin/Stagecoach was worker-run and made £1 billion in 5 years. A better service and low complaints.

John Gibbins, Nottingham

My season ticket costs over £4,300. My journey is disrupted every day now by signal failure or broken-down trains. Where is the investment in infrastructure?

John Pinney, Brighton

Rail reform is economic reform for the UK.

Lauren Godfrey, Brighton

How do the current owners expect the elderly without IT skills to book an economical journey, I wonder?

Joyce Paterson, Stamford

Bring ’em back. Save us from this shambles!

Jack Jaye, Surrey

It’s maddening that we have state-run trains in Britain but other countries manage trains. They siphon away our tax subsidies. We fund DB, NS and SNCF. Why not our BR?

Aidan Turner-Bishop, Preston

It’s an open and shut case. Bring it on.

David Petty, Saffron Walden

Bring it back now.

Anthony Carroll, Stockton

The countries which run the best train services are owned, or part-owned by their governments – e.g. Switzerland, Germany.

Michele Smith, Melton Mowbray

Let’s have an integrated railway.

Christopher Fox, Birmingham

I don’t see how an increasing cost to the taxpayer and passenger, on a monopoly, can be considered acceptable. It strangles the economy if nothing else.

Peter Baker, London