Johannesburg – Trains were still being disrupted as a result of storms on Thursday, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) said in a statement on Friday.

“Our old infrastructure cannot cope with severe weather conditions,” Prasa rail CEO Mosenngwa Mofi said in a statement on Friday.

“Operational staff are doing their best to move the trains. However, during manual authorisation, trains move very [slowly],” he said.

“I have also emphasised safety to my team as the system is now dependent on people.

“We call upon our commuters to understand and allow us time to recover the network infrastructure.

Prasa rail, which operates Metrorail, said lightning had damaged its signals, electrical overhead wires, and Perway (bridges and platforms).

The Perway and rail track had been washed away in the Vereeniging corridor, “rendering it extremely difficult to run the service”, it said.

Areas affected by floods were Jeppe, Braamfontein, Randfontein, Rosslyn and Katlehong.

“Lightning strikes in the Mabopane corridor affected signals to the extent that the service has to be run on manual.”

Faulty signals were affecting the De Wildt corridor, Irene, Olifantsfontein, Van Riebeek, Germiston, Johannesburg, Springs, Leralla, Daveyton and Vereeniging.

Prasa said that, in the interests of passenger safety, Metrorail had introduced an alternative train movement schedule, but that it took time and was complex.

It said its ability to communicate with commuters in the Pretoria precinct had been affected by dysfunctional MTN lines, and that the recovery of the lines would take time.

It appealed to commuters to stay calm.

– SAPA