Margaret Thatcher sold off the furniture in order to keep the house and now all we can do is watch the country go down the toilet. Greed.

Lynn Sheppard, Bristol

Terrible idea when they did it, and even worse now.

Justin Rivett, Taunton.

Rail has been a disastrous privatisation. Bring back British Rail, warts and all.

John Newport, Wakefield

East Coast is in public hands and runs at a profit. The simple thing is not to renew franchise contracts. Take the lines back one by one.

Anthony Jeffries, Lincoln

Our railways should be owned and run by the state for the people and not to profit already wealthy companies and their boards.

Diana Harmer, Shrewsbury

As a regular traveller I can only see benefit from having one seamless service.

Michael Brown, York

The sooner we get a public rail service, run for the benefit of the public rather than shareholders, the better.

Charles Reid, Leicester

Cheap tickets should not depend on finding the best website. They should be easily and openly available to all.

Janice Scott, Norwich

Get rid of the private sector bureaucracy and waste from the national network.

Ivan Merino, Pocklington

We need to bring to an end this, the worst of a series of appalling privatisations.

David Lewis-Baker, Bath

Rolling stock investment needed.

Stephen Sanderson, Rochdale

When is enough profit enough? Travelling by train is becoming unaffordable.

Tim Pennington, London

I’ve only ever known working for Network Rail – No love, no money, no heart, no direction, no future.

Ian Stokes, Birmingham

Why do you and I have to subsidise a private company to make profits for its owners? It’s madness.

Philip Lowe, Whitley Bay

Aspiration for passengers has deteriorated through privatisation and costs have risen. It’s a failure.

Anthony Hinds, Harrogate

How does it make economic sense to privatise an asset in order to save money when it has in fact resulted in triple the cost to run it.

Yvonne Maule, London

Let’s take back our railways out of the hands of the French and German governments and Branson of the Virgin Islands.

Norman Partington, Warrington

An embarrassment to our country, and legitimately a large source of much misery in my life.

Sean Cole, Gravesend

All privatisation is robbery, making people pay twice for the service. Otherwise fares would get cheaper and they don’t.

Michael Burrows, Swansea

Bring back BR. Let the money be spent on the service, not on the lawyers and accountants.

Clive Simmons, Bournemouth

Rebalancing is desperately needed. Let’s start with our railway system.

Mark Flack, Holyhead

All the rail franchisees are subsidised by the taxpayer, so in reality they should be in public ownership.

Harry Duffin, Brighton

Stations were staffed all day. Now they’re not and fare dodgers can walk out without paying.

Paul Roberts, London

The present pricing system with all the different companies is far too complicated and unfair.

Caroline McArthur, Huntingdon

Because I can’t afford to travel for work or to go and see family and friends.

Sophia Stravoravdis, Woking

It’s called public transport for a reason. Public transport trumps private enterprise and profit.

Samuel Lerman-Hahn

The East Coast Main Line is both clean and comfortable. The fares are competitive, the service is first class. If that was spread over other lines it would be marvellous.

Vic Hall, Balderon

This is a Human Rights issue as our taxes are still subsidising the private corporations. Please support https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/bill-of-rights too.

John Wilson, Telford

Privatisation was a huge mistake, just driven by political dogma. New Labour broke their promise to re-nationalise. But there is still hope! Good luck!

Michael Cockburn, Cambridge