I cannot believe that the current rail service is still allowed to operate such a substandard service. I travel to work on TransPennine and Northern Rail.

Russell Alexander, Manchester

Train travel should always be cheaper than a single person driving. There is also a duty to provide affordable travel for citizens that are not able to drive.

Tim Tyler, Manchester

I am strongly against this sell-off.

Derek Shaw, York

All utilities should be run on a non-profit basis. Stop this gravy train for people who have more money than they know what to do with.

Anne Callaghan, Blantyre

You know it makes sense.

Rog Harrison, Glasgow

Unaffordable prices make it difficult to travel home as a university student.

Sophie Taylor, Macclesfield

People and their jobs before profit.

Stuart Leslie, Gravesend

Something has to be done.

Richard Steer, Birmingham

Bring back British Rail.

Ria Hartley, Bristol

Privatisation hasn’t worked. Let’s have it all joined-up again.

Carol Byng, Ludlow

A simple journey is now so complex and difficult. The French and Spanish make rail travel so easy and so much more pleasurable, and all state-controlled.

Geoffrey Skellon, Abergele

Let’s face it, rail privatisation didn’t work.

Alison Hosler, Exeter

I work for one of the unpopular train companies operating in the UK, and the vast majority of frontline staff want BR to return. Obviously upper management don’t.

Gary Hale, Evesham

It makes it very difficult to work in London whilst living in Leicester when train season tickets are so expensive.

Sundeep Maini, Leicester

The sooner the better.

William McKeating, Bedford

Fragmented privatised railways with these ridiculous ticket structures just make no sense. We need a state-owned rail system.

Kevin Philliskirk, Sunderland

I’m not a customer, I’m a passenger.

Chris Gill, London

Abellio is a publicly-owned Dutch company. Northern Rail should be publicly-owned by the British people for those using and working on the line.

Joan Burt, Edinburgh

British Rail was a pro outfit compared to the current shambles.

Marcus Burton Shaw

There is no competition here. I can’t choose a different train service. Privatisation is pointless within a monopoly. The service provided by Southern is terrible.

Reece Caldwell, Fulham

I’ve travelled on GNER, National Express and ECML and the service is better in public hands. Keep it that way.

Peter Burns, Gateshead

Reliable service and fares that are fair and easy to work out.

Carol Spicer, Nottingham

Privatisation has been a disaster. Carried out without a political mandate, and maintained against the general will of the country. It’s time to reclaim our railways.

Richard Leaman, Preston

All UK railways should be publicly owned instead of giving companies (many of which of foreign) our money.

Oliver Bull

Our trains seriously lag behind the nationalised systems of France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, all of whom also have much cheaper fares.

Thomas Barlow, Manchester

There can be no alternative, if ever this nation’s transport system is to simplify itself and return to its former glories, but a return to nationalisation.

Drewe Shimon, Aylesbury

Save our branch lines.

Brian Russell, Swansea

Too many different fares. Railways should belong to the state, never to private companies.

Martyn Andrews, Torquay

Let the franchises run to their end and then take them back without the need for compensation.

Michael Kirkman, York