The return of peak rail fares has been the subject of some very heated debate in the last week.

It is, as noted in my column in The Herald on Friday, a perfectly valid topic for debate.

However, this debate must take in the reality of the situation, notably the excruciating fiscal constraints put in place by the Conservatives and Labour’s clear signals that it will be continuing with the strictures adopted on this front by the previous incumbents.

The chief executive of industry body Scottish Financial Enterprise claimed last week that the return of peak fares on ScotRail is a “tax on work”. He highlighted in particular the burden on people of the return of peak fares for commuters travelling between Glasgow and Edinburgh, The off-peak all-day fares trial at ScotRail, which is owned by the Scottish Government, ended on September 27.

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SFE chief executive Sandy Begbie said last Monday: “The return of peak rail fares will be felt by commuters from across our sector, not least those travelling between Scotland’s major cities to get to work.”

He claimed: “Peak fares are a tax on work, with knock-on implications for what people spend in other parts of the economy. Their return will also have a negative impact on social mobility and opportunities for people to seek career........

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