Privatisation has meant a worse, more expensive service, in prettier uniforms, with less pay for the workforce while a few directors pocket enormous sums.

Tom Fraser, Edinburgh

We have the most expensive and crowded system in Europe. It’s unfair and only benefits the shareholders who abdicate responsibility when there are problems.

Derek Staton, Crouch End

The Government should support passengers’ views and strip these franchises. The wasted hours and extra burden on road networks and human misery should be stopped.

Fiona Veacock, London

I loved British Rail. Bring it back now.

Chris Lovett, Charlwood, Surrey

I’ve just had the most appalling journey recently, with every leg of it fraught with rail company failings. Please bring back British Rail.

Moira Uddin, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Re-invest the profits into the railway, to make a better, more affordable railway.

Mark Whittaker, Newark

They should never have been privatised. Who’s going to pick up the £35billion I wonder? The poor old taxpayer of course.

Peter Begley, Swindon

I usually avoid trains now. It’s just not worth it. I take the coach instead.

Ian Mayman, Leamington Spa

Re-nationalise our railways.

Dean Brown, Enfield

The sooner the better.

David Line, Luton

Bring back a railway not dominated by the profit margin.

Ian Stewart, Rushden

I believe that the railways would serve the country better if publicly-owned.

Emma Anderson, Otterburn

We need a reliable, reasonably priced, rail service. This will never be achieved without re-nationalisation.

Bernard Hurley, Hemel Hempstead

Because the rail network is too important to be left to the market.

Sarah Thursfield, Oswestry

Railways should be run for the benefit of the passengers and not the operators.

Angus

The publicly owned East Coast railway is making money for the country. Let them all do that.

Hannah Bloom, Leeds

As an ex-commuter I can vouch for the outrageously bad state of trains and rail services, and the extortionate fares. We need change.

Anne Brodie, Cowes

It’s obvious that the railways are being run for short-term private gain and not in the public interest.

Tim Delaney, Lowestoft

Please bring back a service run for the passengers who use it, and abolish the system which is heavily subsidised by taxpayers to line shareholders’ pockets.

Richard Norman, Southampton

I would like to see BR re-nationalised.

David Reed, Peterborough

The public railways should never have been sold off. It equates to theft from the public, asset stripping to support the profligacy of the Right.

Dilys Hadley, Exmouth

East Coast has given more revenue in three years back to the government than Branson has in 10 years, They are a model company that should have been the bench-mark.

Charles Chell, Peterborough

Actually, I would want a Welsh Rail. I’m Welsh, not British, but bring back ownership of vital services to the people.

Richard Jenkins, Bridgend

I strongly support the campaign for our national rail services to be brought back into public ownership, where any profits made should be returned to public coffers.

Raymond Howell, Stevenage

The privatisation of British Rail is a failure and, like many other utilities, needs to be nationalised urgently.

Derrick Joyce, Newbiggin by the Sea

The only thing privatisation has brought us is poor quality, expensive, unreliable rail services.

Jo Savill, Retford

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

Ray Riley, Mansfield

Just look at how the railway industry is organised on the continent (owned by the state.) Privatisation is neither efficient nor cheap.

Timothy Richards, Abertridwr

If nationalised East Coast can make a profit then stop subsidising private companies and bring pack a joined-up transport system.

Ralph Baxter MBE, Northampton

Please re-unify. Our country is too small for lots of separate railways.

Sandra Kell, Ripon