HOBSONS Bay residents have welcomed a State Opposition plan for increased security on train lines at night to stop violence and alcohol use.

Last week Ted Baillieu announced that if elected, all train stations across Victoria, including the Williamstown to Werribee line, would have a Victoria police security officer present after 6pm at night until the last train.

The $200 million four year plan, Stopping Crime in its Tracks, would include additional Victoria police protective service officers to patrol train, tram and bus networks and more than 1000 extra officers on public transport system with a zero tolerance approach to crime.

“Victorians expect leadership on key law and order issues and they expect their taxes to be spent on basic services and on community safety,” Mr Baillieu said.

This would mean a Victoria Police PSO would be permanently stationed on every train station in metropolitan Melbourne and major regional centres, seven days a week.

“There were more than 9000 reported offences on the public transport system last year and levels of violence and unruly behaviour are at unacceptable levels,” he said.

When Star visited Laverton train station on Wednesday afternoon residents largely agreed that the plan would ensure safety and was a good idea.

Laverton Residents Association president Michael Pernar said the PSO proposal would be good for the community.

“To me I think it's a brilliant idea, if the safety factor is increased in the station and if it means more people will use the train,” he said.

“I’m supportive of any initiative that would reduce the usage of cars and I think safety is one of the biggest issues why people are shunning public transport in the evenings,” he said.

However some felt money could be better spent elsewhere.

Laverton resident Jane Walker said police resources were stretched and that it would be good to put the funding towards employing more officers to man their police stations.

“The (police) station is never open but they want to put them on the (train) stations,” she said.

"If you don’t want to get attacked, don’t get on the train.”

According to Victoria police statistics, over the past five financial years assaults in Hobsons Bay had risen from 17 to 37.

But in the past financial year, assaults had dropped dramatically to nine at Hobsons Bay train stations, with eight robberies occurring.

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the call was ill conceived and light on detail and did not take into account what transport projects would need to be cut.

Ms Kosky said the State Government had already invested in Victoria's public transport system after train lines were closed and staffing levels were slashed.

“We have already committed to 50 new transit police positions and an additional 22 new stations will be staffed under the new franchise agreement with Metro Trains Melbourne,” she said.

“And on top of this 100 additional staff will be added to the rail network next year,” she said.