Rail travel has become a cash cow for private companies. Result: a very poor, overpriced, service.

Sheila Barclay, Glasgow

The management of rail services has been a shambles since privatisation. This essential service needs socially responsible national management.

Patricia McCarthy, Milton Keynes

Anyone wonder why fares are going through the roof? The rolling stock leasing companies are partly to blame.

Thomas John Wheeler, Dyfed

The sooner the better.

Marianne Baddiley, Kempston

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

Michael Clarke, Plymouth

Please re-nationalise our national rail. Privatisation has been a shambles and our rail system is an embarrassment, despite the contrary claims of the rail companies.

Phillip Challinor, Warrington

The East Coast Mainline better than everywhere else. Enough said.

Kieran Murphy, Hemel Hempstead

On leaving school in 1957 I worked for British Rail for 14 years. Whilst it wasn’t perfect, it was affordable for working people. It was privatised and everyone knows the rest.

Gerry And Brenda Leach, Leeds

Time to ring the changes and scrap the private companies.

Graham Weeden, Bedford

As usual all the profits going to shareholders, with users left with dangerously crowded trains with tickets at criminal prices.

James Banville, Woking

My son had to take a taxi to Colchester when a train broke down on the line and was three hours getting to work.

Jenny Rivett, Ipswich

Travelling by rail should be at the heart of our transport system, popping on and off a train instead of waiting in endless traffic queues on our overcrowded roads.

Elizabeth Ellis, Oakham

A terrible idea to privatise in the first place. Please re-nationalise for the sake of the British people.

Christian Chess, Chippenham

For a better Britain.

Martyn McCarthy, London

I’m sick of overcrowded, late trains on my commute to and from work. I have to travel half my journey by bus due to poor connecting trains. Bring back British Rail.

Chris Parker, Leeds

Bring back British Rail.

Paul Nash, London

Stop the rip-off.

Thomas Wilcox, Stockport

Re-nationalise now.

Fernando Hernandez, London

British Rail was a national institution. It should be brought back. If the people want it they should get it, and Parliament should do what we want.

Lisa Gillott, Wales

The privatisation experiment has failed. Rail transport is an integrated service essential to the economy and needs public ownership.

Tessa Gordziejko, Hebden Bridge

A truly important campaign which should also connect to the growing campaign against HS2 which will not benefit the North in any discernibly important ways.

Jane Banks, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Ticket prices are now so high that they will force commuters off the trains. Please re-nationalise the railways and run them as a public service.

Alison Smith, Hove

We need a railway that’s a source of pride not profit.

Allan Robinson, Sussex

If BR reduces prices and doesn’t make me sit on my luggage from Leeds to London I might use trains again rather than National Express buses.

Jean Mertzanakis, Leeds

It’s a total waste of taxpayers’ money, which is going straight into the bank accounts of greedy people.

Robert Masters, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Nearly every European country has its state-owned railway. We should have the same, run for the people not fat cats taking all the profits.

Michael Dunne, Darlington

Put profits back into the railways and not rich shareholders.

Yvonne Stout, Sawbridgeworth

Take shareholders out of the equation and run rail as a service, not for private profit.

Fred Whitby, London

It’s the only way to improve rail transport and get an integrated network.

Alwyne Richards-Ellis, Luton

I want proper public services that don’t have the extra charge of having to supply a profit.

Patrick Dunlop, Cambridge