Peter King, EdinburghSelling the profitable East Coast route to German state railways seems daft.
Hannah Straw, NottinghamTrain travel is now prohibitively expensive. Smaller stations are not serviced, meaning that only wealthy people who live in well-connected places can use it.
Graham Garside, SouthamptonIt is a public service that should be in public hands.
Hilary Warr, Holmes ChapelI have thought for years that BR should never have been privatised. See Private Eye for our messed-up railways.
Sally Welham, CarnoustieIf it stops the ridiculous cross-over between train companies and leads to a better service I am all for it.
Andrea Byrom, LeedsWe need a unified railway system. We need to acknowledge the environmental and public ownership benefits and run it for the public good, not for private profit.
Mary Fraser, KilmarnockWe should own the railways before they go overseas.
David Phillips, PolegateEast Coast Rail (run publicly) should be an example to all politicians. Private operators were not able to make it pay.
Vince Edwards, CoventryPrivatisation, on its own, has not delivered a good service. Fares are way above inflation. Improvements in the network have resulted only from government intervention.
James Martin, GlasgowRe-nationalise the railways.
Ann Bennett, Kings LangleyI sincerely hope this works.
Gerald Guthrie, GlasgowThe private companies are bidding too much for franchises and trying to balance the books by job cuts.
Jago Tremain, NorwichPrivately owned railways will never operate a rational fares structure. Irrational structures make them more profit.
Simon McDonagh, LewesOther EU countries have it so much better, so why can’t we?
Jonathan Wang, LiverpoolI prefer BR to be re-nationalised, because in other EU countries the railways are state-owned.
Daniel Cotfas, LondonKill Southern dead.
Robert Bridge, Hampton HillI use East Coast and it’s brilliant under public ownership compared to when National Express operated it.
Ian Isherwood, MacclesfieldOnly by nationalisation can we have a fully integrated public transport system for the good of all citizens.
Hannah Harrison, ManchesterWhy are British train companies so bad?
Dorcas MundayI am disabled and need to use the trains.
David Lienard, Newcastle-upon-TynePrivatisation is a capitalist threat to democracy.
Julian Wilson, TonbridgeI know a few of us re-nationalisers round here. Could we hold a meeting or action?
Patricia Wilson, MerseysideIt should never have been privatised and now it’s gone to ruin, no money has been spent on it and all has been banked for the owners.
Roddy Macdonald, SheffieldWhile you’re at it, re-nationalise gas, electricity, phones and water.
Maureen Farrar, MexboroughPrivatisation of the railway system has done little for the people of this country, except to bring them larger fares, so I say Bring back British Rail.
Nick Hopkinson, YorkThe Rail network should never have been privatised. It was politically motivated and has been a massive failure.
Richard Porter, MaidenheadStop East Coast privatisation now.
Pauline Metcalfe, JarrowRailways need to be in the public domain, not private for shareholders benefit.
Brenda McCraith, KetteringLet’s roll back the last twenty years of mayhem and costs and bring back good old British Rail, a wonderful institution.
Jennifer Zass-Ogilvie, DurhamStop privatisation of a service being well run and profitable.