I favour fares that are affordable almost every country in Europe have nationalised rail, successive governments in this country didn't want to invest in our railway system for Beecham onwards it was all about saving money not modernising properly, It was fragmented and the longer it was put off the more expensive it became. the LNER line became profitable again when the government took it back from Stagecoach/Virgin because the finances weren't being fed to the higher ups. As the franchises finish the government should take them back the moneys generated could be used to reinvest and modernise. It would take time but by doing it area by area you have it up and running before moving onto the next franchise and also have the experience and knowledge of doing it in other areas it would be a far more manageable task.