THOUSANDS of music fans face being left stranded in Glasgow due to rail staff strikes next week.

Passengers are being warned to expect “significant disruption to services” as strike action by Network Rail staff means ScotRail will operate services on just five of its routes.

Barry Manilow and Phoebe Bridgers ticketholders will be left without a train home after the travel giant announced the major disruption as a result of UK-wide action.

Network Rail staff, who are responsible for train lines and infrastructure across the UK, are set to walk out on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday next week.

On those days, ScotRail said it would only be able to run two trains per hour on the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High line, on the Edinburgh-Bathgate route, the Glasgow to Hamilton/Larkhall service and on the Glasgow to Lanark line.

In addition, there will be one train an hour running on the Edinburgh to Glasgow service that goes via Shotts – with services on the five lines only operating between 7.30am and 6.30pm on June 21, 23, and 25.

A number of events are due to be affected by the travel chaos including Barry Manilow’s Hydro show on Thursday, June 23, which will see thousands of music lovers head to the city.

US superstar Phoebe Bridgers’ sold-out Barrowlands concert could also see hundreds of fans stranded on the same night.

Fans from across Scotland are planning to flock to Glasgow for the Punisher singer’s performance but will now be left with no train home over the strike action.

Other events include Tremonti at SW3G on Tuesday, June 21, Morgan Wade at Òran Mór on Thursday, June 23, and UK Drag Race runner-up Bimini’s gig at SW3G on Saturday, June 25.

The disruption is also expected to affect Glasgow’s official Pride march which is back for 2022.

The long-awaited massive LGBT event will kick off on Saturday, June 25, after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As well as the parade starting at noon, this year’s event will see collaborations with venues across the city for all ages, meaning huge crowds are expected to gather in the city throughout the day.

Travel customers have now been warned they should only travel on the routes “if they really need to” and that final services will leave stations “well before 6.30pm”.

The warning of disruption comes as the train drivers’ union Aslef announced it would ballot its members over the 5% pay deal they have been offered.

If accepted, it could end a dispute that resulted in ScotRail having to cut more than 700 services from its timetable.

Members of the union stopped working overtime when the dispute began, resulting in a temporary timetable being put in place.

As well as increasing pay for drivers, the new deal includes more money for rest day and Sunday working, driving instructor and maternity pay, and a policy of no compulsory redundancies for the next five years.

Kevin Lindsay, the Scottish regional organiser for the union, said: “Following a meeting of Aslef’s national executive committee today, it has been agreed that the package of pay and conditions improvements negotiated between the union and ScotRail will be put to all members in a ballot. The executive is recommending members accept the deal.

“Aslef is a democratic, lay, member-led union, therefore it is right that the train drivers of Scotland decide whether or not to accept this offer. Ballot papers will go out next week and the result announced on July 11.”

Disruption will also be felt on the network in the days following the action as signal boxes are reopened, particularly outside the central belt.

An update from ScotRail on Wednesday said it “may well be later in the day” before services return to normal in areas other than the middle of the country, where signal boxes are expected to be reopened as early at 7.15am.

David Simpson, ScotRail’s service delivery director, said: “It is very unfortunate to see such widespread disruption across the whole of the Great Britain rail network and we know this will be frustrating for ScotRail customers.

“Regrettably, this strike action by RMT members of Network Rail means that we will not be able to operate the vast majority of our services during the period of strike action.

“Customers should expect significant disruption to services next week, including on the days between strike action.

“On the five routes where we are able to operate a very limited service on strike days, we’re advising customers to seek alternative means of transport and to only travel if they really need to.”

RMT members in Scotland are also locked in a pay dispute with ScotRail, having rejected a deal similar to that offered to Aslef last week.