Our railways cost us more in subsidy. Running and upgrading them is more expensive and millions are siphoned off in profits. Look at East Coast for proof of this.

Chris Purser, Thirsk

Bring it back but no more excuses like wrong kind of leaves on the track.

Tim Hardy, Portsmouth

We the people would very much like to see the railways re-nationalised. More focus on good service and profit being put into improvements rather than shareholders’ pockets

Davis Wilkie, Edinburgh

I believe that a nationalised rail network would provide a far better service and financial return. Forget how it used to be and do it better.

Bill Stead, Leamington Spa

Obviously an automatic monopoly can’t be a private industry, honestly.

Joseph Maser-Clarke, Brighton

If the French and German state rail companies think it’s a good idea to run Britain’s railways then why don’t we?

Richard Wetherell, London

The privatisation of the rail system was disgraceful on so many levels and continues to be a mega-expensive shambles.

Kay Coombes, Malvern

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

The prices are out of control.

Tim Murphy, Preston

The prices are far too high, with private companies only interested in profit for the shareholders.

Derek Chapman, Frome

Privatisation is really backward. Our rail network has gone down the toilet, all in the name of private profits. Change it.

Jake Eiseman-Renyard, London

The cost of train fares is scandalous. The railways should never have been privatised making passengers suffer under high paid big bosses.

Veronica Symes, Fareham

Public transport needs to be affordable and it’s not. Let’s stop paying private shareholders and bring British Rail back.

Cora Luscombe, Taunton

Environmentally, socially and economically, the imperative must be to run the railways for the nation’s good and not for private profit.

Simon Hough, Tetbury

Everything should be back in the tax payers’ hands.

John F Spencer, Shirebrook

See our web site lawfulrebellionstalbans.blogspot.co.uk.

Warren Knight, St Albans

It should never have been privatised in the first place. While we are at it we should re-nationalise gas, electricity, water and all of the other public services.

Keith Hutchison, Alfreton

Short-sighted dogma caused the chaos.

Alan Perkins, Canterbury

Simplify fares and concentrate on running reliable trains.

Sue Horne, Brighton

It just makes sense to me – people before profit. That goes for all the other utilities (gas/electricity/water) that have been privatised for the rich to make more money.

Lesley Jones, Hull

I’m amazed we need to tell people about this.

Paul Thornton, Huddersfield

It cost taxpayers more while private companies maintain a good profit. Put all revenue back into the rail network, with the same systems of oversight.

Michael Hurst, Manchester

My trains are late at least three times per week. The cost of my ticket is twice that of smaller journeys on non-commuter routes. How is this helping people in jobs?

James Purslow, Bristol

Shocking company, greedy CEO.

Steve Emsley, Huddersfield

Travelling by rail should be at the heart of our transport system, popping on and off a train instead of waiting in endless traffic queues on our overcrowded roads.

Elizabeth Ellis, Oakham

Stop putting money into the pockets of the greedy privatised railway owners.

Stevan Hezseltine, Carshalton Beeches

Fully supported.

Ryan Wilson, London

As a young person living quite a distance from larger cities such as Bristol or Birmingham, I can’t really go with the prices being so high.

Nicholas Mills, Swansea

This is a complex infrastructure which needs holistic management.

Tim Lewes Gibbon, London

Bring back British Rail.

Alan Butcher, Washington