It’s about time taxpayers stopped subsidising railways so private firms take profits. East Coast rail has proved that public ownership equals profit for taxpayers.

Michael Thompson, Doncaster

We need a not-for-profit rail network. East Coast has succeeded since being taken out of failing private hands. Bonuses and payments to shareholders put the prices up.

Jean Wilson, Bradford

The best high speed trains in Europe are in France, Germany and Spain where their rail networks and trains are owned by a public company.

Luis Galan Gomez, West Midlands

With operators like London Midland and Greater Anglia this is argument enough for nationalisation.

George Smith, Hemel Hempstead

Nationalised East coast line costs taxpayers less to run than the privatised lines. Stop companies lining their pockets with our money.

Diane Cawood, Manchester

People not profit.

Sue McCormick, Lancaster

Public transport in public hands.

Cecilia Ballesteros, Hove

Restore public service. Even in a recession European countries manage to run proper railways without feeding private greed.

John Ketchell, London

BBBR. Except this time make it accountable to a committee of the travelling public, railway experts, successful business people, and no politicians. Thank you.

Hugh Tonks, Cambridge

There are too many train operators who have a monopoly over the rail network such as First Group. On some lines the trains are not long enough. X-Country take note!

Charlie Bryant, Sheffield

I’ve just had the worst train journey ever travelling from Birmingham to Wakefield. It took just under 3 hours, making an average speed of 34 mph.

Lynda Pickersgill, Barnsley

The East Coast line is making a profit and receiving less subsidy in state hands than it did when private. A good model for re-nationalisation.

John Howe, Cardiff

Buying tickets is fragmented and complicated.

Leslie Glass, Haverhill

This country needs to catch up with the rest of Europe by having a viable public transport system.

Simon Short, Rochdale

If the rail industry is ‘private’ why then do the train operating companies take their profits whilst the taxpayer is still contributing considerably to the rail network.

Stuart Wilkins, Brockenhurst

The same management consultants, McKinsey, who planned rail privatisation are doing the same to NHS.

Gurdave Gill, Sidcup

Both of my grandfathers were steam engine drivers. They would be incensed to see the profiteering free-for-all of today’s railways. Re-nationalise now.

Suzy Davies, Crawley

A civilised country would run a unified and expanded network affordable to everyone (while taking freight off the crumbling roads network.) Re-nationalise now.

Lindy Ayubi, Exeter

I actually remember British Rail and, although not perfect, it made co-ordinated travel more easy,

Rose Nugent, Darlington

East Coast paid over £1bn to the Treasury in dues yet re-privatisation took place in 2015 defying economic logic, completely fulfilling Tory strategic plans.

Andrew McDonnel, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

For vital utilities de-nationalisation simply doesn’t make sense.

Gary Mitchell, Bournemouth

I want the railways to be publicly run for the public good and to cut down on private car and lorry usage.

Chris Venables, Sheffield

Division of the rail service into smaller providers would always be economically unviable and a waste of resources.

Chris Stevens, Robertsbridge

Please bring back the unified system that made so much sense and ran a much better service.

Anna Doughty, Conwy

As a person who frequents public transport for personal and business reasons, I’m appalled at the high prices, bad conditions and shoddy policies.

Kyle Perkins, Totnes

We need more trains. Where I live we are lucky if we get one train an hour. As for the train company they are really bad. British Rail is needed.

Elizabeth Steenton, Craven Arms

Privatisation of strategic services is an obvious mistake.

Steven Lockwood, Derby

This is a no-brainer. The reasons for re-nationalisation far outweigh the crass commercial arguments for private ownership, especially since that is mostly foreign.

David Tyler, Abergavenny

Should be run as a public service not as a private business.

Anita Bartholomew, York

Isn’t it time that the government listened to regular rail users and bring back British Rail and stop this privatisation madness?

Jamie Neil, Aldershot