Rail fares are too high. A unified system would be much more cost effective.

David Gillman, Harlow

The railways should never have been taken out of public ownership.

Jean Withers, Morecambe

Privatisation is only good for profit-making and nothing to do with customers. First Capital Connect are atrocious and have done nothing for rail travel.

Steve Gordon, Bedford

It’s ludicrous that the profit-making (for the taxpayer), East Coast Trains has been re-privatised. That’s dogma gone mad.

David Broadmeadow, Louth

Reduce road traffic and fumes. Re-nationalise the rail industry and make trains affordable and efficient.

Jean Smith, Brentwood

As a daily rail user, this has to happen.

Ian Ashleigh, East Grinstead

Our train network is vastly inferior to that of any other major European country, and is an embarrassment.

Sebastian Hall, London

Vote Green to bring back British Rail.

Jon Matthews, Swanley

An integrated, modernised railway system should be for the benefit of all the nation, not just shareholders and rich executives.

Keith Lewis, Cardiff

Re-nationalise rail travel now and end the gravy train for the fat cats. Public transport for the public good.

Kevin Farrer, Edinburgh

I loved British Rail as a tourist. I miss it.

Nea McKeon, Albuquerque, USA

Rail travel is experiencing a renaissance currently, so why aren’t we reaping the benefits? I want a public railway again.

Joe Kerr, London

Incomprehensible why foreign state-owned railways can be allowed to run UK rail franchises. System totally discredited. Bring back British Rail.

Ronald Nicolson, Kilmacolm

I regularly travel by train but am finding increasingly it is cheaper to drive.

Helen Pengelly, Barnham

How can it be cheaper to fly to Paris than visit a loved one in Yorkshire? To buy my return ticket to work I have to work the equivalent of 4.5 hours, which is nearly half my day.

Jessica Harriott-Kerr, Reading

Bring back British Rail. What a nonsense that money which should be ploughed back into a better rail service is used to line the pockets of shareholders.

Richard Mandridge, Petersfield

Bring back not only British Rail, but all water, gas, electric and banks – all into public ownership and get this country back on track!

Jamie Bramwell, Cheshire

Take back the community’s railways.

Douglas Mitchell, Bedford

Privatisation has been an unmitigated disaster.

Duncan Harris, Melton Mowbray

Privatisation of such a valuable service was a catastrophe from the start, so let’s rectify the mistakes of the past.

Benjamin Walker, Manchester

The current rail structure is lunacy with no real competition anyway. I believe there are 23 companies responsible for different aspects of safety etc.

Kevin Webb, Accrington

East Coast line making a profit for the country and yet they want to privatise it – where is the common sense in that?

James Hurst, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Re-nationalisation of the rail companies will bring fares down and allow more to commute happily. It’s greater for the 99% paying into the nation than to a set of businessmen.

Antony Milek, Mirfield

Improvement in rail services – more carriages, punctuality, cleaner / greener trains – is needed now. No more fare increases lining pockets of shareholders!

Janis Cairns, Manchester

Best wishes in your campaign. I saw a sticker on a sign next to a railway track while train spotting with a friend.

Martin Dawson

A modern unified rail service is essential for now and the future, both environmentally and socially.

Susan Pethybridge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

All public transport networks and systems should be run as not-for-profit, and all should either be re-nationalised or re-regulated whichever it is under.

Andrew Appleyard, Oldham

I would love to go to explore England more during the weekends, but the price of travel just stops me. This is why rural towns and villages are closing down.

Ricky Milling

Britain has the highest train fares in Western Europe. National Rail receives billions each year in grants so it is in all intents and purposes state-run.

Lawson Cartwright, Worcester

People before profit.

Sharon Kelly, London