Two Metrorail coaches were burnt down by unknown men at Thembalihle Station in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Wednesday.

Superintendent Vincent Mdunge said a security guard on duty at the station at KwaMashu had noticed a coach on fire at 8pm on Tuesday.

"When he went to investigate, he said he saw two men running away from the scene. He also saw that a second coach was also burning," said Mdunge.

The guard called firefighters and alerted the police. However, the damage was already done, he said.

Metrorail condemned the torching of the two coaches.

Spokesperson Tiro Holele said that no stone would be left unturned in an attempt to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"We suspect these attacks is the work of employees whose security companies dismissed them earlier this year for poor performance," said Holele.

Police are investigating a case of malicious damage to property. No arrests have been made as yet.