Melbourne’s tram network would be extended by 56 kilometres, linking up tram routes that currently end at quiet suburban locations with nearby shopping centres and railway stations, under a policy the Victorian Greens will take to November’s state election.

Seventeen ''missing links'' in Melbourne’s tram network would be connected at a cost of up to $840 million, or $15 million per kilometre of tram track.

''Trams are a better investment of public money than the polluting East West toll road, which will cost $1 billion per kilometre,'' a Greens policy document states.

Extensions on the list include linking route 3 to East Malvern station and on to Chadstone shopping centre, route 48 from North Balwyn to Doncaster Hill, route 82 from Footscray to Docklands along Footscray Road and route 86 from Bundoora to South Morang.

''For a range of odd reasons, many of Melbourne’s historical tram routes stop short of connecting to major destinations and other transport routes,'' Greens leader Greg Barber said.

Mr Barber said Melbourne’s hub and spoke tram network would be more effective as a connected grid, because it would let more people use trams for cross-town travel. ''These small but important connections will help public transport users go where they want to go, when they want to go there,'' he said. ''They will revitalise local shopping centres, cut the number of people relying on a car and make for better cross-town links, not just radial trips towards the city centres.''