The system is a mess. Ticketing practices and pricing make the system very difficult to navigate.

Alan Bennett, Walsall

As a public service, the railways should belong to the people and any profits go into the public purse, not to make the rich richer.

David Butcher, Luton

Public transport should never have been privatised in the first place.

Michael Karczewski, Ramsgate

What we have now is the worst of both worlds – the service is worse and the cost of operation higher.

Aaron M, East Sussex

It makes sense.

Irina Palczynski, London

Train prices are a robbery, and the increases just don’t stop. Hugely unaffordable, an hour on the train should cost an hour of minimum wage.

Alexis Parrinder-Nicholls, London

East Coast has performed efficiently and profitably since being temporarily back with us. It’s time for a full re-nationalisation.

Michael Clarke, Plymouth

It’s strange that we have DB running some of our trains.

Mark Waters, East Linton

This privatisation experiment has failed. The East Coast Line ran at a vast profit when in government hands but not when previously run privately. It’s time for British Rail.

Richard King, Bristol

Poor air quality is killing people. We need vehicles off our roads and only a thriving nationalised rail service will help.

Mark Gibson, Altrincham

We need an integrated system run by one body with even prices, not bargain basement for some and exorbitant for the workers.

Trish Harewood, Godmanchester

We all know re-nationalisation is the way forward.

Sam Smith

There is no logical reason not to return the railways to public ownership, run like a business, to keep tickets economical and benefit the travelling public.

Nigel Holmes, Hull

Don’t waste money on HS2. Just get us an affordable transport system.

Steve Mulvale, Padstow

I am not a socialist, but believe the railway system and utilities should be in public ownership.

Ian Shaw, Cotgrave

Certain things should not be de-nationalised and BR was definitely one. The East Coast line has been in public hands for a while now and it’s bloody great.

Gloria Percy, Durham

Cut carbon emissions and subsidise rail travel now.

Steve Burns, Brighton

British Rail is an infrastructure for the people, not a series of money-making businesses for profit.

Robin Blincowe, Leeds

We need a railway system to be proud of, which can once again become the envy of the world!

Neil Sheehan, Merseyside

I would scrap HS2 in favour of a high-speed north-south freight line running along the course of the Great Central and reopen vital link and branch lines cut by Beeching.

Hugh Terry, Reading

Buying a ticket takes so long. It used to be so simple when the ticket seller would tell you the best deal and you’d buy your ticket. Tax on fuel should fund public transport.

Jane Begley, Exeter

The transport system should exist primarily to benefit passengers, not to line the pockets of the likes of Branson.

Alan Bayes, London

Only an entirely publicly owned railway system will bring down fares and increase safety.

Robert Turnbull, Kilmarnock

I did work experience for the HSE and was shocked to find that the Potters Bar crash happened because of poor maintenance, subcontracted to unqualified people.

Sara Dona, Leeds

Why re-nationalise the railways? For starters, £1billion of taxpayers’ money would be saved each year.

Lee Hutchinson, Bristol

Bring back British Rail, electricity and gas. No more extortion.

Geraldine Joshi, Kirkcudbright

The ticket prices are insanely expensive, especially when compared to other EU nations. If they can do it far cheaper then why can’t we?

Lewis Cooper, Luton

I spend one fifth of my wages on the worst, totally unreliable, rudest service. They get it wrong all the time, but if you do, heaven forbid.

Rebecca Gould, Cardiff

Look at what East Coast brings to the public coffers.

Boris Durham, Leeds

It should never have been sold off in the first place. We owned it, why did we need the chance to buy something we already owned. It was all about giving it to the rich.

Gary Madden, Newcastle-upon-Tyne