Some of your applications so far:

As the BBC rail champion I could represent all commuter types. I own a car but cycle to the train station from where I travel to work by train every working day. After experiencing one of the busiest train routes for over seven years I have seen it all. Filthy trains so late that they almost catch themselves up! I am passionate about transport and have reminded ministers many times that they've failed to make any positive impact whatsoever. Simple changes have a large impact. I can see that so why can't the decision makers? Let me speak for you.
Pepe

I want to be the commuter champ because I would bring to the job fresh ideas coupled with the cynicism of one who has seen it all. An ideal combination if we're to get the railways we want. I want less emphasis on fast express trains for business executives and more on stopping commuter services for the workers, which after all carry the bulk of railway travellers. I want less emphasis on trying to run the trains as a business for shareholders and more on running them as a service for the public.
Peter Kingston

I commute daily from Peterborough to London via GNER. There's three aspects to improving the railways - 1) Long term government investment to improve the infrastructure, 2) short term railway company investment in teaching communication skills to staff (GNER are good at this) and 3) creating an environment where commuters can change their own attitudes - I've met loads of people, myself included, who are using commuting time to study Open University degrees. Getting stressed won't reverse years of underfunding so reframe the problem and look at ways of making the journey of value to the individual as well as the rail company.
Richard Palethorpe

Because I am sitting here writing this email, having spent 1 1/2 hours on a train journey that should have been 35 minutes, and yet I'm planning on giving up my car and rely completely on public transport. I have an undying faith in a public transport system that seems hell-bent on failing me. I think you need someone who can champion both sides of the argument.
Colin Smith

Railways are a passion of mine; and I would like to see a regeneration of the railways in Britian to a level where they are safer, faster, easier, and cheaper than any other form of transport. I have travelled overland from Singapore via China, Russia, and Europe to the UK by rail; seeing and recording the states of the various railways along the way; few (even in Kazakhstan) are worse than Britain. If 'third world' countries can run a fantastic national rail network then we can too! I dont own a car; and I believe there should be no compelling reason to - we can make rail work again in Britain!
Alistair Thistlethwaite

I should be your Rail Commuters' Champ, because I commute to work every day via Central Trains on the Robin Hood Line in Nottinghamshire. I write a daily report which I fax to Central Trains and the Midlands Rail Passenger's Committee. I have a personal campaign against Central Trains to improve conditions for their passengers. Besides reliability issues, there are also health issues from the fumes produced by waiting trains, and a large part of my focus is to improve things in this area. The Midlands Rail Passengers' Committee monitor my reports and use them as evidence against Central Trains.
Richard Twyning

Unlike many people, I actually depend on trains. For environmental reasons, I do not own a car and the greater part of my travelling, both leisure and professional, has been by train. I believe that the range of journeys I undertake gives me a unique insight into the state of the railways. Amongst the many things I would like to see improved are the information available at stations (especially the smaller stations) and better integration with local bus services so that organising a complete journey by public transport is made easier.
Neal Hawman

I am a daily passenger (I refuse to use the customer), an average sort of chap really who has endured over twenty years of foul smelling, late running, overcrowded and unsafe trains to London from East Anglia. I've lost count of the number of children's birthdays missed due to train problems, as well as anniversaries, meetings, you name it. I have even once been "fined" by forgetting my ticket for one day. However, I do have some fairly simple ideas which could improve matters if they were taken seriously. I'd like to be the "Voice from the platform".
Jonothon Yuill