TRAIN services in Helensburgh and Lomond are set to be disrupted again this week as the country's largest transport union stages two more 24-hour strikes.

Industrial action by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union across the UK – including Network Rail workers in Scotland ­– is expected to see the vast majority of services on the ScotRail network cancelled on Thursday, August 18 and Saturday, August 20.

However, unlike on previous RMT strike days, this week ScotRail expects to be able to run services to and from Helensburgh Central on both dates - albeit on a more limited basis than usual.

ScotRail says that "as it stands", it plans to run trains every 30 minutes on the Edinburgh-Helensburgh route, via Glasgow Queen Street low level and Dumbarton Central, on both dates – but only between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

These services will call at all stations west of Dalmuir. Between Dalmuir and Glasgow, they will call at all stations via Yoker.

The first train from Helensburgh will leave at 7.30am on both dates, while the last departures will be at 4.55pm (to Airdrie), 5.25pm and 5.55pm (both to Dalmuir).

Westbound, the first train from Glasgow to Helensburgh on both dates will leave Queen Street low level station at 7.58am. The last service to Helensburgh Central will leave Queen Street at 5.29pm. 

In addition, there will be no trains on any ScotRail routes before 7.30am on Friday, August 19.

There will also be no services on the West Highland line via Helensburgh Upper on either August 18 or August 20.

There will be no Caledonian Sleeper services on the West Highland line - or any other route - on August 17, 18 or 19.

A small number of late evening ScotRail services will be cancelled or revised on Wednesday, August 17, and a handful of services on the morning of Sunday, August 21 will also be affected, but none of these are on the routes to or from Helensburgh.

The walkouts are the result of a row between the RMT, Network Rail and 14 train operating companies across the country over jobs, pay and conditions.

The RMT has already rejected what it has called a "paltry" pay offer from Network Rail .

Although ScotRail is not one of the train operating companies involved in the RMT dispute, workers taking part in the walkouts are likely to include Network Rail signalling and maintenance staff in Scotland.

For full details of how this week's strike action will affect ScotRail services, click here.

A ScotRail spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, Network Rail will be unable to open any other signal boxes to operate passenger services on any other routes on the strike days.

"As there will be very limited services running, please only travel if necessary. If you have to travel, you should expect disruption and plan ahead."