Why should other state Railways (French,German, Chinese, HS2 etc.) own our railways, particularly as we can do it better?

Robin Murch, Dawlish

If the French and German state rail companies think it’s a good idea to run Britain’s railways then why don’t we?

Richard Wetherell, London

I miss BR.

John Lambert, London

A unified rail system that is state-owned is safer and works for the benefit of us all.

Bryan Kennedy, London

The railways must return to public ownership as soon as possible. Services to the south west are embarrassing. First Great Western are being offered incentives to continue. Why?

Mike Rumney, Paignton

This entire country is being sold off bit by bit. Rail services now are expensive and totally ineffective. Bring back our industry and services.

Shirley Salter, Derby

The rip-off is unbearable. The people’s needs should always come over the company profits. Bring back the national rail service.

James Parsons, Portsmouth

We must keep this. Profit versus service and shareholder dividend always means we lose out.

Colin Waugh, Stockton-on-Tees

I couldn’t agree more. Let’s make it happen.

Pattie Barron, Brighton

Give it back to the public.

Annie Niner, Leyton

I wanted (even expected) that John Prescott might achieve this when the Blair government got in. I’m still waiting and hoping.

Janet Russell, Silsden

Fares higher, fewer trains, poorer services. Bring back BR.

Maureen Lydon, York

Too expensive, not enough infrastructure investment, too much is paid in subsidies to companies who don’t provide a good service. Re-nationalise the railways.

Boyd Fletcher, Basildon

I believe rail transport should be run as a joined-up service and this should be funded out of general taxation.

Anthony Oatham, Epping

Yes we need cheap trains.

Rob Willis, Shrewsbury

We need a fair rail network that is affordable and works.

Andrew Adam, Norwich

Train overdue.

Robert Lindsey, London

More money has been wasted on consultants and legal fees that could have been spent on Rail. It would be great if we had this wasted money spent on rail instead.

Andrew Stewart-Wright, Rugby

The railways should never have been returned to private ownership. The mess they were in then was the very reason for nationalisation. Will they never consider history?

Enid Khan, Leicester

It can be profitable, just like East Coast is.

Trevor Lees, Barnsley

Last train from Birmingham to Stafford on a Saturday night is 10.35. This is 2017, this is the future, not 1918. A system that works for the customers not the shareholders please.

Paul Wheeler, Stafford

It’s time to end privatisation. As each franchise ends, return it to a public run railway at no cost to taxpayers.

David Zipfell, King’s Lynn

Simply take contracts back in-house as they expire. It is so simple.

Derek Pearson, Southend-on-Sea

Major infrastructure such as the railway system should never be run by private companies. There will always be detriment to the public.

Mark Shaw, Edinburgh

Public services should be run for public service not private profit.

Simon Anthony, London

I could not agree more.

Christine Gibson, Leeds

Rail fares should be going back into the infrastructure and not to shareholders and the bosses of the multiple companies make up our railway.

Graham Henderson, Bordon

For the people.

Kerry Pickett, Brighton

The railways have never been the same since they were privatised.

Veronica Hobbs, Wootton, Bedfordshire

There is no point in continuing the botched model, as rushed through Parliament in1994.

Phil Crumpton, Smethwick