We need to bring back British Rail, as Network Rail outsource nearly all of their projects to scrupulous companies like Balfour Beatty and Alstom.

Alastair Carr, Boston

I think that British rail should be brought back as it was very important to my grandfather’s trade.

Jade Turner, Derbyshire

There are some services the market can’t effectively provide and a rail network is one. It’s a costly experiment gone wrong and it’s time to wake up to common sense.

Jonathan Martin, Lancaster

Only criminals want things privatised, beginning with the Nazis in Germany.

Rupert Kavanagh, Sudbury, Suffolk

Prices are too high.

Aaron Malcolm, Fife

East Coast is a model to be followed. Yes, the railways have expanded numbers of passengers amazingly, but East Coast practice needs to be adopted everywhere.

Janet Townsend, Durham

Overcrowding, overpriced, understaffed.

John Roberts, Liverpool

If the rail tickets were sensibly priced, car usage would be reduced.

Andy Lewis, London

Train fares are way too overpriced.

Jon Smith, Bristol

I object to paying for infrastructure that private firms will profit from. Public investment should support public services.

David Leigh, St.Albans

Bring back nationalised public services for the public who actually use the services, not the greedy fat cat capitalists in private jets.

Julia Mulchrone, London

East Coast Rail has been great. Why fix something that’s not broken? I think we know why.

Victoria Hartung, Grimsby

Unite the railways and make it better for customers and staff alike.

Michael Smith, Enfield

Do away with private regional rail networks.

Bill Hobson, Morden

I use the train daily to Leicester and a good portion of my wages goes on train tickets for a poorly run service.

Adam Smith, Nottingham

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

Dawn Farrier, Nottingham

Bring back British Rail – used by the people of the World – which should not have been privatised.

Deborah Fitchew, Letchworth

Please bring back British Rail.

Sarah Henningham, Urmston, Manchester

Bring back British Rail, to ease the pain of buying a rail ticket online from faceless, obscure and non-accountable vendors. Railways for people.

Naomi Siderfin, London

As the tax payer already contributes to the private rail network we might as well own it.

Graeme Allister, Dunfermline

I joined British Rail as a Clerk in 1983, and was subsequently, as a Manager, put on the scrap heap in 2013, after 30 loyal years’ service. We need a unified public service.

Ken Langley, Sliema, Malta

The current situation allows no choice and therefore no competition, so it should be re-nationalised.

David Walmsley, Ossett

The general public are being priced out of rail travel by the private owners of the rail firms who only care about their shareholders’ profits.

Mike Shilton, Stafford

Run the railways for people – not for private profit.

Ian Macpherson, Egremont

Not even Thatcher was crazy enough to privatise the railways.

Stella Hawkins, Hounslow

Let’s put the British back and make the railways a state-owned company. Everyone then should be able to afford to use them.

Susan Gulliver, Keighley

Privatisation is just a legal rip-off to the public in general.

Terry Barnard, Bridgend

We all know that privatisation doesn’t work, time and time again.

Barry Hearn, Watford

If any of the main parties had the balls to sow up re-election this is all they’d have to do.

J T, Hove

At least, as a first step, bring back the BR brand within the franchise system, like with London Buses. The customer should only see BR, regardless of actual TOC.

M P L Muresan, London