The recently announced rail fares freeze is nothing more than a pre-election con trick and passengers will have to foot the bill eventually, argues Herald columnist Alan Simpson

You can always tell when there’s an election looming as that is when free stuff gets handed out by politicians.

The closer we get to polling day, the more outlandish the pledges and promises become matched only by the soaring cost to the taxpayer it will all cost.

Depending on how narrow the polls are, politicians desperate for a vote will pledge almost anything just to secure a wee cross on a bit of paper.

Free two-week holiday to Tenerife for everyone? No problem. Free lollipops for kids, cars, tickets, houses – whatever can potentially win a vote could get floated.

Of course, it is not that extreme but it does feel like it sometimes.

John Swinney was at it this week and gets the award for the earliest election promise when he announced that rail fares will be frozen for the next year.

On a visit to Edinburgh Waverley station on Thursday, he announced the £4.3 million investment – which will fluctuate depending on demand – in the 2026-27 financial year.

Rail fare hikes are usually imposed from April of each year, with last year seeing an increase of 3.8%.

The First Minister said: “The government recognises the challenges that people face in wrestling with the cost of living at the moment, so we’re looking for every step we can take to try to help people.

“We’ve decided to freeze rail fares for next year, so there’ll be no annual increase in rail fares, and what that will do is help commuters to afford their daily travel.

“When you add to that the abolition of peak rail fares, which we undertook in September last year, it’s a huge saving in the cost of travel for individuals and helps people at a time when household incomes are under such pressure.”

The government hopes the move will make rail travel “a much more........

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