Instead of standing on its own feet this has become dependent on taxpayers for survival.

Ray Riley, Mansfield

When is the government going to learn that privatisation does not work.

John Stewart, Irvine

Trains are way too expensive. I cannot afford to use them any more and I have to look for jobs in my own town as commuting would not be financially possible.

Victoria Hunt, Doncaster

Rail travel is a public utility that should never have been privatised for profit. Bring back BR.

Paul Stevens, Oakham

The unification of the train operators with the infrastructure is a must for a commonsensical rail network.

Stuart Wilson, Norwich

British Rail may have had its problems but nothing like the expensive muddle bequeathed to us by the Major government.

Oliver Heathcote, Ipswich

Stop the complete annihilation of the guard’s role from McNullty, the government and shareholders.

Chris Davies, Eastbourne

It is comical how terrible our public transport is outside London. We are made to look foolish by other European nations.

Ben Cole, Selby

As a social necessity, trains cannot provide an effective and fair service run on a ‘for profit only’ basis.

Anne Mead, Tewin

Bring back British Rail. People and service over profit.

Kerry Hindmarch, Sheffield

I loved British Rail. Bring it back now.

Chris Lovett, Charlwood, Surrey

It’s too bloody expensive to buy a train ticket.

Francis Dalton, Bracknell

Railways are an essential public service, and should be run to benefit the public, not shareholders.

John Wilkins, Sheffield

This system has to end. Nationalise the rail network. Save us money, and invest more. You can do both

Timothy Shroll, Alton

I’ve been using East Coast trains for the last year and a half. I would hate to see this change.

Tereena Costard, Slough

All services used by the public should be publicly owned – People not profit.

Miriam Jones, London

Public services privatisation can only equate to private profits and public losses. And so two directors of Thameslink line are paid £3.4million in salaries + bonuses.

Meera Patel, London

Institutions like British Rail should have never been privatised. The companies are milking the public dry while running a poor service.

Alan Corner, Middlesbrough

Privatisation was a disaster. All it brought was private profit with the public paying more. Electricity should be re-nationalised too.

William Edmonds, Huddersfield

Stop the fares rip-off. I would use trains if fares were affordable. Put freight back on the railway and take it off the motorways.

David King, Exeter

Re-nationalise now.

Elfyn Griffith, Bristol

It is time to end rip-off fares, poor service, delays and overcrowding. The East Coast Main Line success shows it is time for re-nationalisation. People before profit.

Nicholas Koopman

We are subsidising foreign rail companies and the government are responsible. These companies would not do it for a loss.

Geoffrey Barlow, Warrington

Re-nationalise all TOCs.

Raymond Lockwood, Wakefield

A reliable, affordable, state-run railway would benefit the whole country.

Sarah Hurley, Bristol

Bring back a unified publicly-run transport system.

Peter Rose, Worcester

Reliable rail network required.

Ian Bradshaw

East Coast was a joy to travel on and it made a profit. What a ridiculous thing to have to ask for. nationalisation now.

Lewis Denson, Bristol

Privatisation of trains has patently not worked.

Annette Lenton, Sussex

If East Coast can run efficiently and effectively then so should the whole network without ‘middle people’ – including shareholders – taking the profit out of it all.

Christine Hood, St Albans