The sooner the better.

William McKeating, Bedford

It should be back to government control. There are too many privateers and profit-seekers.

Jim Pryce, Asfordby

I’m 65 and remember how efficient and affordable BR was just prior to the ludicrous ideological Tory privatisation which has delivered such a deluge of waste.

Joe Stoner, Bethesda

Trains have been private most of my life – it’s time for a change.

Elizabeth Matter, Nottingham

Just watch Caroline Lucas’s and Ellie Harrison’s You-tube clips from my party conference. They’re excellent. Reducing fares by 18% would help to make train travel affordable.

Andy Blanchflower, Gateshead

Privatisation is theft.

H R Anderson, Falkirk

We must not let Network Rail – our transport infrastructure – go out of public ownership.

Hazel Thompson, High Peak

Beeching’s rationalised railway made commercial competition impossible as each route is is a monopoly. The only sane way to operate this is as a nationalised entity.

Jo Turner, Leeds

Expect nothing to happen with the Tories.

Maurice Thomas, Uxbridge

Altruism – the disinterested concern for the well-being of others. What’s it to be ? Elected Government or capitalist sharkfest?

Alan Chesney, Leeds

Trains should be accessible and far more affordable over longer distances, rather than using a car and the expense of fuel. Also more employment should be created.

Kevin Price, Nottingham

This needs to happen urgently. We are already decades behind most other advanced countries.

Adam Evans, Pontefract

Bring British Rail back into the hands of the people who rightfully own it.

Stephen Reilly, Ashton-under-Lyne

I despair when we have sold off our national assets, from rail to energy to water to money. Bring back British Rail and leave the Post Office alone.

Alistair Ligertwood, Liverpool

Bring back British Rail and stop mega-finance making money out of essential services.

Pauline Rendall, Colchester

I moved to Nottingham in 1996 and soon got a job with a company that dealt with British Rail. Soon after that year we had then to deal with all the private companies.

Alyson Rennie, Nottingham

Enough is Enough. Stop robbing people and making their lives a misery. All everyone wants is to be able to get to their job at an affordable cost.

Dympna Child, Ware

We need to unify the railways again to make them much cheaper for us to use, so we need British Railways back again.

Colin Carpenter, Bedford

I’ve just had the most appalling journey recently, with every leg of it fraught with rail company failings. Please bring back British Rail.

Moira Uddin, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Bring back BR. Great stuff.

James Goddard, London

Rail travel that people can afford, not lining pockets of the rich.

Andrew Marriott, Loughborough

Privatisation was an idea that has proven to be a mistake. It’s time this public service was put back to what it used to be.

Sion Ford, Cardiff

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Since moving back into public ownership the East Coast line is thriving once more. Nothing more needs saying really.

Harry Bird, Sheffield

This must happen.

Neil Brand, London

I believe in the railways but not in the way they are run for fat controllers and shareholders. It’s a vital utility, unlike the motor car.

Ian Smith, Chippenham

I strongly support this, and bringing energy back into public ownership as well.

Lesley Doveton, Uxbridge

In 15 years my rail fare has more than tripled from Faversham to London using a Senior Rail Card and not arriving in London before 10am.

Marika Sherwoood, Oare, near Faversham

The rail network is a mess. Bring it back to the public. Privatisation has not worked.

Maya Ring, Sompting

As a train driver, I believe we should go not back to the old BR but a new BR investing profits back into our railways.

Chris Wilkinson, Horbury

It would be much better in public ownership. Look at East Coast. It did very well in public ownership.

A M Reeve, Edinburgh