An "extremely violent" man with a "significant history" at the high security Thomas Embling hospital is facing attempted murder charges after allegedly throwing four women off the platform at Glenhuntly railway station.

The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Monday that Craig Joseph Hansen, 47, who had chosen to stop taking his medication before Sunday's rampage, was being kept in a padded cell before his scheduled appearance.

Police at the scene of the attacks at Glenhuntly railway station. Credit:Seven News

But Mr Hansen refused to either speak with Victoria Legal Aid lawyers or leave his cell to appear before the court.

Police allege Mr Hansen attacked a group of five women – two of them aged in their 80s – at Glenhuntly station on Sunday morning and pushed four of them onto the tracks.