The railways, like other public services such as buses, water, electricity, gas and the Royal Mail should all be in public ownership.

Stephen Peacock, Leeds

Oh the irony. Britain invented railways but we can no longer run them efficiently and cost-effectively.

Amanda Nicoll, Tadcaster

Total rip-off – the cost for rail travel has gone up too fast and the service goes the other way.

David Watts, Harrow Weald

Re-nationalise and keep the profits to be invested in the infrastructure.

Trevor Walsh, Oldham

Major gave our railways away, so how about having it given back to us on the same basis. In fact the people of Britain did not consent in the first place.

Robert Montague, Langley Mill

Rail is a natural monopoly and should be in the hands of the people through democratic government.

Peter Collins, London

Bring back British Rail. Much more reliable.

Ross Manning, Dover

Re-nationalisation of BR is of paramount and urgent importance for the improvement and cohesion of a patchy and unsatisfactory system.

Laura Strathearn, Sheffield

A confusing plethora of train companies and fares which does little for the customer.

Meg Gain, Stratford-upon-Avon

A comprehensive rail service was arguably the greatest British achievement, exported all over the world. Invaluable part of our infrastructure.

Janina Leitch, Keighley

We need a reliable economic system to take freight off the roads and provide affordable travel for passengers.

Sylvia Swann, Scarborough

The railway is now out of control. Private companies, individuals and the DfT are playing games with shareholders.

Pauline Stephens

Check out the pathetic rail service in North Wales. Who cares?

Sue McCall, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll

The railways should be run for the benefit of the community and not to make profit for shareholders and pay huge salaries to the directors.

Angela Barker, Wigan

Fare prices are far too high (in contrast with Europe) and FGW services are either always delayed or cancelled. What happens with the public subsidy? We have had enough.

Mia Brar, Slough

I agree that the current system is expensive and deeply flawed.

Stephen McVeigh, London

Given the state of rail travel at the moment: late trains, high fares and little to no innovation, we should bring back British Rail.

Jamie Ward, Crediton

National infrastructure, like railways, with no competitive market, deserves to be in public ownership.

David Charnley, London

Even in its darkest days, starved of investment, British Rail wasn’t as bad as these cowboy operators.

Jonathan Davidson, Coventry

Bring it back.

Joanna Eckersley, London

Put the railways back under British Rail and re-open some lines in the Wigan area.

Colin Miller, Wigan

The railways should be for the public, not for fat cat directors who cream off any profits.

Brian Fidler, Oxford

As an artist and member of Equity, we often have to travel at short notice. Our current rail system does not work for me. It’s expensive and unreliable.

Edward Currie, London

An integrated state-owned rail network is needed urgently. Privatised, fragmented ‘services’, run for profit are never safe or efficient. Look at history.

Lesley O’Hagan, Belfast

Put people’s rail service back with the people.

Neil Merrett, Nottingham

Yes, re-nationalise the railways.

John Cooper, Sheffield

A re-unified national rail network run for the people who travel and not for subsidised profits is just what I want to see.

Kenneth Stubbs, Newton Aycliffe

No competition equals high prices and bad service when there’s no alternative.

Tom Hirsch, Northampton

Darlington is my hometown, and if I want to visit my disabled mother with a day’s notice, it could cost me more than £100 to do so. This is wholly unacceptable.

Oliver Ferries, London

The recent East Coast line experience shows it’s the only way to run the railways.

Garry Martin, Sheffield