Train struck by lightning in Perth

A train has been struck by lightning in Perth's northern suburbs just minutes before it was set to pick up its first passengers of the day.

The train was in Clarkson station on the Joondalup line on Friday morning when a lightning storm passed overhead around 6.45am.

There were no passengers on board as it had just rolled into service for the day.

A transport spokeswoman said the strike caused the train's electrical system to fail and it stopped on the line for about 45 minutes.

The lightning strike caused delays of almost two hours on the Joondalup and Mandurah lines.

The lightning storm broke a summer-long dry spell across Perth, with rain in the north of Perth recorded at 9mm at Gingin, 2.4mm at Bickley, 2.8mm at Pearce, 1mm in Perth and 0.5mm at Swanbourne.