Any profit should be returned to the public purse, not shareholders’ pockets.

Margaret Ashton, South Shields

East Coast seems to have done marvellously in public hands.

Janet Longbottom, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

We need to take back control of our railways, so we get cheaper rail fares and better service.

Janine Gallagher, Huddersfield

Let’s have it.

Ian Woodford, Ipswich

I have to get the train in to school everyday and the services are ridiculous.

Tomm Taylor, Manchester

Obscurantist pricing, overcrowding, frequent late-running and cancellations are unacceptable. Private rail is a farce, a confidence trick and shameful.

Jeremy Abram, Taunton

Unify the rail system for the people not the banks and rail companies. It’s not competition we need, it’s management. Outsource it to the Swiss or Germans.

Andrew Smith, Southampton

Let’s hear it for common sense.

Diana Salmon

It’s about time we started to buy back our property.

Yvonne Jeffers, Washington

I have been saying this for years and wondered how to make it happen. The rail system is too disjointed and not doing what it needs to for those that use it. Bring it on.

Jenny Alder, Hailsham

Bring back sensible ticket pricing and booking.

Stefan Lewicki, Harrogate

British Rail was one of the few companies that offered a cohesive service through the UK. Bring it back and give us value for money.

Elizabeth Hodgetts, Chesterfield

MPs are corrupt to the core.

Thomas Crute, Newton Aycliffe

Public transport, publicly owned.

Shaun Rogan, Enfield

Bring back British Rail

Wayne Medina, Colchester

Back into public ownership now.

Robert Taylor, Barnsley

BR was proper railways.

Nick Barnett, Hove

Yes, something essential as public transport shouldn’t be in private hands, because this sets the wrong goals. It’s “People before Profit” and not the other way around.

Martina Gross, Berlin, Germany

In a world where our “public” services just keep getting worse and worse, please see sense.

Christopher Fazey, Chester

Privatisation of strategic services is an obvious mistake.

Steven Lockwood, Derby

It feels as if it’s all disintegrated. Make it function properly by joining up the pieces.

Sylvia Webb, Sunbury

The price we are paying now should be going into the trains not into people’s pockets.

Helen Jones, Manchester

Let’s do what the Germans do. Invite someone (Richard Branson) to take over British Rail and run it as a not-for-profit company.

Eric Barker-Clarke, Stockton-on-Tees

I had to leave a job in London because the service is so horrendous. The railways need to be re-nationalised.

Richard James, Brighton

Long had enough of franchises, rinsing passengers of money for poor service, uncomfortable cramped trains. Plus I prefer the 1970s uniforms for staff.

Jason Fernee, Billericay

We need the return of all things that were great about Britain, of which this is just one.

William Quinn, Liverpool

Privatising the railways has been a disaster that’s cost the British public dear and put lots of much needed dosh into the hands of profiteers.

Alex Marshall, Bridgend

I saw your full-page advert on the back of Private Eye yesterday, and felt hopeful for the first time in ages – can we do it?

Liz Luck, Fowey

Let us take it back. It and all the other state companies and the NHS do not belong to a sick bunch of half-wit profiteering politicos to sell off as they wish.

Michael Coleman, Redditch