British Rail, gas and electricity should never have been sold, because they belonged to the people and should all be brought back to where they belong.

John Richardson, Blackpool

It was a huge mistake. East Coast lines and Eurostar prove that publicly-owned railways can bring in profits for us all.

Evelyn Welsh, Prestwick

We need a proper railway system again, not HS2.

Chris Blackmore, Melksham

Public services should not be privately owned.

Cheryl Abdul, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

They should never have been sold off.

Hugh Davies, Aberdare

The present system is costing the taxpayer more than British Rail did.

David Hunt, Nottingham

End the present shambles now.

Mike Keedwell, Chelmsford

We need an integrated network again not the disorganised state of a multitude of companies and complex ticketing like the state of the railways prior to nationalisation.

Robet Kearney, Ipswich

Please bring back a decent, nationalised rail service that is accountable to its customers and not to shareholders and profiteering executives.

Joe Rus, Trowbridge

The railways are far too important to allow private firms to run them into the ground. These companies bring no money or expertise to the industry, yet they get rich.

James Evans, London

The railways are a public service vital to the country and should not be privatised, with the profit going to subsidise other European state railways. It’s disgusting.

Graham Fox, Manchester

Train travel is a public service filling a human need, not a luxury. Passengers, not customers!

Owen Hubbard, Kent

Bring it back.

Rob Flann, Isleworth

The main routes carrying the most passengers have deteriorated since privatisation.

Roger Oliver Lewis

British Rail was a fine institution. With the issues over high ticket prices and a rail network needing investment, the only way forward is to re-nationalise the industry.

Matthew Jason Brown, Cleethorpes

Privatisation has failed to save money for the public purse or the travelling public. All it has provided is lots of expensive liveries. We need to re-nationalise now.

Guy Amedro, Gorebridge

Public transport should be run for the benefit of the country, not shareholders.

John Evans, Billericay

In general, the best train services in Europe are given by public companies.

Luis Galan Gomez, West Midlands

End this abomination and greed.

Carol Lilley, Hemel Hempstead

Privatisation has ruined our railways almost as much as Beeching. The status quo only benefits the shareholders and bosses. Too much freight on the roads now too.

Richard Walker, Wilmslow

The service is so fragmented now, with everyone having their own little budget areas, that it’s no wonder that the investment in the railway itself is minimal.

Valerie Coote, Salisbury

East Coast is making a profit under state ownership. Keep it that way. Stop the rip-off price rigging of train tickets.

Keith Kennils, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

It is time to stop this nonsense of private companies making profits from public subsidy and ripping off the travelling public.

Paul Andrews, London

The state’s washed its hands of the railways, thereby letting down the people, turning the system into a money-making scam instead of one of the best in the World.

Suhail Noorani, London

Privatisation has made the railways much worse.

Ralph Baker, Margate

I would very much support Caroline Lucas MP’s private member’s bill for each part of the railway to be brought back into public ownership as its franchise expires.

Jill Vogler, Leeds

East Coast trains have greatly improved since they were taken back from the National Express.

Marie Bowers, Dundee

I regularly use East Coast Rail and want it to remain in public ownership.

Lucy Cowan, Berwick-upon-Tweed

As someone who uses the train as their only form of travel, it has massively restricted my day to day life, especially given that I am a student.

Chantelle Abigail Stocks, Leeds