We are giving too much heritage away to private companies. Many more people are travelling by rail these days. Surely it can be run profitably with all of us benefiting.

Jean Pratt, Chesterfield

Should be in public ownership for future generations to benefit, not shareholders.

Scott Smith, Glasgow

Railways are a public service and should be state run and not for private profit.

Maryam Shakiba, London

Some things in life should not be about making a profit.

Cynthia Fleming, Grantham

All services in the country should only be owned by the British people.

Roger Drion, Durham

British taxpayers should own British Rail, not French taxpayers or private investors.

Dorothy Granville, Middlesbrough

I fully support this petition.

Kevin Rouse, Luton

I want our railway to become a public railway, run directly by government. I fully support Bring back British Rail.

Rajesh Mittal, Doncaster

The railway is a public method of transport, fascination and convenience. I believe private companies should have no say in how our railways are run.

Jack Sayers Shaw, Bournemouth

Bring Back British Rail – from Switzerland.

Nizar Kazan, Lausanne

Privatisation is theft.

H R Anderson, Falkirk

Our national rail services are an expensive, disorganised shambles.

Iain Morrison, Sevenoaks

Surely this can be done by compulsory purchase? Then the profits can benefit all and prices can be kept down.

Jane Francis, Reading

Nationalise all utilities.

Lynn Evans, Stourport-on-Severn

It ran better in public hands

Lee Fisher, Middlesbrough

It’s disgusting that the public have to pay to make a few people become millionaires for doing nothing.

James O’Neill, Edinburgh

If it improves service then I’m happy.

Michael Greenwood, Braintree

I’ve just travelled back from Germany and I am clearly envious of their equivalent of BR. If they can do it, then we can do the same.

Richard Treloar, Portsmouth

The nation that gave railways to the World, has given away its railways.

Ken Lee, Truro

Any profit should be re-invested, not lining the pockets of owners.

Bruce Cooper, Herne Bay

I fully support this petition.

Donna Macpherson, Bathgate

How about a government that works for the people, starting with sorting out our transport and healthcare systems?

Rachel White, Lancaster

As a seventy three year old, having worked for British Rail, I feel that the privatisation of the railways was a retrograde step.

Colin Crockett, York

There would be less of a north/south divide if people could afford to visit other areas in the UK. It will benefit all communities across the nation.

Joseph Till, London

They should be state owned, not private.

Paul Rex Dando, Shepton Mallet

Train tickets are too expensive and too complicated to understand.

Leigh Hatts, London

Re-nationalise the railways and make them better. There are too many top bosses getting crazy pay and bonuses which should be used to improve the network.

Steve Adie, Carlisle

They always did belong to the people and funded by the people. They should be set up along the same model as Waitrose – Quality and owned by the employees.

Brian Thomas, Pwllheli,

We are a not very big island in the Atlantic ocean The railways, like electricity and gas should be run by the nation for the nation. We don’t need corporate investors.

Sue Radford, York

As a foreigner who now lives in the UK, I still cannot believe how expensive (and otherwise capitalist) trains in the UK are, and that the British people let this happen.

Jeff Hemmen, London