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Added: Sunday, 5 July, 2009, 21:57 GMT 22:57 UK

I would like to see the railways nationalised, but if that is not possible, why not marketise them. I commute into Central Leeds daily but the overcentralisation of government in the UK means that 3x as much transport funding is directed to London than Leeds. This results in overcrowding of over 300% on some lines into Leeds. It's laughable when Londonders think they have it bad. Why not enforce a TFL style system on our main city regions so that the major cities can have efficient transport?

Jason, Leeds, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 2 July, 2009, 23:01 GMT 00:01 UK

Following the take over by the government of one railway, I think there is a serious case for a re-nationalisation of the railways. They are a public service which I think should be owned by the public. This would lead to a fairer fare structure and would be more beneficial to rail passengers. Lessons do need to learnt from the old Britsh Rail days which I think they have been. The travelling public do deserve to have a fast, reliable and comfortable journey which they can afford to pay for.

Steve Fuller, Hove, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 2 July, 2009, 22:53 GMT 23:53 UK

In theory, nationalisation sounds obvious to me - the only difference should be nobody taking money out in profits. In practice, who runs it is much less important than how they do it. It wasn't right under BR and it isn't right now. We need a more fundamental look at exactly what we want from the rail network and how best to get it than simply switching between private and public every decade or so.

Joe, London, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 2 July, 2009, 22:50 GMT 23:50 UK

Pre privatisation British Rail were one of the most efficient railways in the world, with a train on time being within only 2 minutes, now the leeway is 5 minutes, with some franchises 10 minutes I believe.

Peter Fletcher, Petersfield, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 2 July, 2009, 22:48 GMT 23:48 UK

Bring back steam engines. People to build them. Miners employed. Steel makers employed. Forget the tree huggers.

Duke, Kinross, UK, Scotland,

Added: Thursday, 2 July, 2009, 22:42 GMT 23:42 UK

Harman says she will not allow anyone to walk away with the taxpayers money. So they have been lying about the expenses.

Brian anderson, Castle Douglas, UK, Scotland,

Added: Thursday, 2 July, 2009, 22:40 GMT 23:40 UK

The reason British Rail before privatisation was so bad was the Government wanted it that way. A successful, publicly owned, railway service would have been allowed.

Michael, Thetford, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 2 July, 2009, 22:38 GMT 23:38 UK

The railways should be nationalised. Train fares are more expensive than plane tickets. Continental Europe has good trains everywhere, including Spain, UK is the only country in West Europe that does not cheap good trains, the country where they where invented.

Ami, Bristol, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 2 July, 2009, 22:33 GMT 23:33 UK

Yes! Privitise the Railways- as it is now, the railway system Is rubbish- expensive (50% more expensive than the rest of Europe), bad service and often delayed. No idea why they haven't already been nationalised.

Andrew McDiarmid, Greenock, UK, Scotland,

Added: Thursday, 2 July, 2009, 22:28 GMT 23:28 UK

The Tories set a a Bunko Booth system of Heads the bus companies win, tails the tax payer loses. National Express overbid anticipating 10% growth. They should lose all franchises as they are an inept company. People should remember that the business sectors set up prior to privatisation actually were doing lots on less money than the amount of taxpayers money that lines the shareholder pockets of the bus companies which run the railways today

Charles Woodland, Exeter, UK, England,