Steve Higgins, LeedsI support Caroline Lucas’s proposal to take each rail component back into public ownership as franchises finish. East Coast shows how much better it would be.
Andrew Read, EdinburghThis is the age of the train, or not as it happens. What happened to Intercity 250? Why are we stuck at 125mph. How much for a ticket? This is the age of the Megabus.
Moira Kay, Berwick-upon-TweedIt’s a shame the government did not plough as much money into BR as they have the privatised companies.
Peter Van Stratten, CardiffNothing state owned should ever have been sold.
Julie GriggOur railways are a disgrace now, expensive and too full of people to be safe, unless you are in first class.
G Hanham, Berwick-upon TweedI am old enough to know how good our rail network was when it was a public service and a critical part of our infrastructure. It’s about time we returned to that ethos.
Terry Wood, NorwichFar better under BR days.
Charles Boylan, PrestonBritish Rail was much better. You don’t realise what you’ve got till its gone.
Barbara Naughton, GorebridgePrivatisation stinks.
Marina Matosic, BoltonMy commute from Bolton to Manchester is beyond belief. It is far worse than any journey on the London Underground.
Louise Ashby, BristolPlease bring it back for fair fares.
Connor Scarlett, LondonStop the rip-offs and the poor service.
Jack Pearce, StaffordIt is increasingly clear that the time has come to fix this problem, to stop the ideological war on common sense by right wingers and start creating a proper railway.
Geoff Cummings, BournemouthAll utilities and public services should be working for the public and not to line the pockets of rich shareholders who know nothing and aren’t accountable.
Clive Bell, DoncasterIn the national interest most utilities should remain in public ownership. Most of our assets are owned by foreign companies over which we have no say.
Ian Scrimgeour, BournemouthPrivatisation has been a disaster for the fare-paying passengers.
Lyndon Hughes, HorshamBritish Rail should never have been dismantled in the first place.
Aaron Gray, BathBring back British Rail and the General Post Office, telephone and internet services too.
Kathryn Thomas, Radcliffe-on-TrentThe ludicrously complicated fare structures have to go.
Thomas Robinson, SheppertonA train guard refused to let me board a train when I asked to see his ID, after he questioned me about my ticket, he then proceeded to throw a punch at me as it departed.
Andrew Bromley-Waugh, KentPrivatising the railways has been the biggest con job by the conservative party. It was always about profiteering for a selective clientele, and not serving the public.
Ken Stott, WolverhamptonRailways are a national asset which belongs to all of us.
Alan Milne, Newcastle-upon-TyneWe are the owners of East Coast rail line and that is cost effective. Why should we give away our heritage to big businesses who are only interested in their profit?
Michael Kemp, WoolpitBring back BR. Fares are a joke. Why can’t they stop putting up fares every January?
James McDonnell, NottinghamA rail network, run for the people, owned by the people.
Terry Collins, SnaithChange is due. We have a rail system whose profits should not go to big business.
Trevor Larsen, Kingston upon HullOne of many bad decisions by Mrs Thatcher and followers. They basically sold off the family silver to their friends and backers at rock bottom prices. Only their friends benefited.
Josephine Smoldon, Bridgwaterwe need a railway system that serves the people.
Ben Stratton-Woodward, LondonThe movement and travel of the regular person is tantamount to true freedom. No matter where to or when a man should be able to travel for love, trade, family or a favour.
Douglas Tenison-Collins, ShrewsburyI dread to think what I’ll do when my railcard runs out.