Privatises utilities such as the rail network. Operators are massively subsidised by the taxpayer. The benefits should be given to the travelling public, not shareholders.

Patricia Saunders, Barnsley

Over-priced, inefficient private providers have no concern for the fare-payers, only profit for them and their shareholders. East Coast line proves that public is best.

Nick Alexander, Newark

I’m old enough to remember when it was that way and better. We need a service to serve us.

Trevor Barham, London

I welcome this action.

Andrew Hampshire, Leeds

It’s time to restart investing in a necessary public transport infrastructure that isn’t led by profits and shareholders.

Georgina Watson, Croydon

The current state of affairs is ridiculous!

Kevin Reynolds, Brighton

Stop selling off our national assets for a quick pound to balance the books. Bring back British Rail.

Paul Craft, New Romney

We are paying more in subsidies to the private companies than we were under the old British Rail. This makes no sense as privatisation was supposed to stop subsidies.

Paul Rowan, London

It’s despicable that the train operating companies collect fat profits from driving the prices up on an essential public service.

Josh Kerry, London

Private companies succeed by putting profits first. That’s what capitalism is all about. Nationalised companies can put the public benefit first.

James Craig-Gray, London

As far as I’m concerned all the privatisations made in the 90s have been a disaster. As we all know deep down, profits always come before people.

Brian White, Bedford

It should never have been privatised and we should be opening up the routes Beeching in his shortsightedness shut.

Rod Mathews, Richmond, North Yorkshire

The railways belonged to us before they were sold off. Re-nationalise British Rail and use any profits to re-invest in the infrastructure, not line the pockets of the rich.

Jonathan Gulliford, Merthyr Tydfil

Please bring it back for fair fares.

Louise Ashby, Bristol

East Coast sell off is a disgrace. We need more public ownership, not less ideologically driven profiteering.

Mick Barry, Brightlingsea

Surely it is common sense for some of our transport system to be publicly owned.

Robin Carmichael, Leeds

Things have got worse since the government privatised BR. Now it’s more about profit than punctuality and safety.

Mark Shaw, Twyford

Privatisation has not worked. It is only the Conservative ideology behind this matter.

William Hunter, Hartlepool

Rail privatisation was madness in 1993 and remains madness in 2013. A massive public subsidy of private profit. Re-nationalisation is not just sensible, it is essential.

Julian Wagstaff, Edinburgh

Railways are a national asset which belongs to all of us.

Ken Stott, Wolverhampton

This, to me, is the crucial policy area, a lynch-pin. The only major party calling for re-nationalisation is the Greens. I will vote for them in the next election.

Mick Piggott, Hebden Bridge

Transport is a public asset, and should be owned by the public. The banks next.

Delwyn Davies, Abertillery

Tax payers paid for British Rail and they have a say in what to do with BR, not money grabbing MPs.

Brian Stephens, Sunderland

Privatised rail still relies upon public money as well as fares, so only the profit has been privatised, not the cost.

Daniel Miller, London

Nationalise, strike, organise.

Liam Hawksworth, Leeds

Trains have always been my preferred means of travel but since privatisation have become too expensive.

Nicola Graham, Brighton

Rail travel in this country is so expensive it’s disgusting. We are an embarrassment to the rest of Europe.

Kris Deedigan, London

Without someone to answer to, privatised companies can walk all over the British public, providing far less for more. It’s time to stop this ludicrous demise of our railway.

Julie Woodley, Horsham