Privatisation has left us with a less safe, far more expensive train service.

Peter Benson, Grays

Rail Franchising has hurt the people and the DfT is corrupt

Gary Ortiz, Rocky Point

It is high time the government started to provide efficient and effective railway transport in the UK.

Brian Hamill, Ballymena

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

Bring back British Rail.

Tony Ash, London

I think that if we bring back British Rail, it will cause a smarter, unified railway for the public.

Aidan Wilson, South Shields

The idea that essential national infrastructure should be owned by publicly unaccountable overseas private organisations is absurd on a fundamental level.

Phillip Bevin, Surbiton

That’s it. You have me on board. The wife is popping across to Bristol this weekend and a return is £19. That’s a 20 min journey to the next station on the line.

Daniel Wright, Swindon

I am a socialist. I believe in services for the people by the people and for proper employment of the people paid for by taxes, mainly from the rich.

Andrew Barlow, Liverpool

Bring BR back.

Alec Thorne, Bedford

Connectivity, simple fare system, all better as British Rail, with profits ploughed back.

Philip Barlow, Nottingham

Bring back British Rail. It belongs to us, the public.

Karen Maloney, Maidstone

We need our British rail – for all the people.

Mary Pipkin, Connah’s Quay

Please, please make this happen.

Victoria Wild, Harrogate

I miss British Rail porridge.

Iain Ward

Since privatisation fares have gone up and quality and efficiency have gone down. That’s all you need to know, really.

David Barrett, London

The franchise system is a joke. BBBR.

Mark Pascoe, London

Privatisation is a misuse of public assets. The assets were never yours to sell.

N. Holmes, Durham

The old British Rail service was preferable to the abject misery I get most weekends on my line.

Jason Fernee, Billericay

The current system just isn’t working – except for shareholders.

Terry Stockman, Sidcup

It’s currently far too expensive for such a poor service. Let’s get it nationalised again!

Mark Legg, Sheerness

British Rail, gas and electricity should never have been sold, because they belonged to the people and should all be brought back to where they belong.

John Richardson, Blackpool

It was doing okay, so why was it changed?

Pam Heynes, Carnforth

Railways for people not private profit.

Martin Posner, Hastings

The whole rail system is a mess. Bring back British Rail.

Peter Worth, Nottingham

It should never have been privatised. There is too much money wasted the way it’s run now.

Aaron Lee Gibson, Carlisle

It’s time that essential services were provided by, and accountable to, elected government, and not private shareholders.

Nathan Compton, Cwmbran

Privatisation was the easy way out for Margaret Thatcher – along with selling off council houses. Then energy. Now we are owned by multi-nationals. Give back our transport.

Catherine Vickery, Market Harborough

It’s sickening that profit to a small number of shareholders is what drives this essential service. Terrible.

Robert Irvine, Glasgow

Public railways are cheaper to run and return more money to the government, and run on time.

Frank Clements, Manchester