A suspicious package that created havoc around Melbourne's Southern Cross Station with workers evacuated and a busy intersection cordoned off has turned out to be a pair of shoes.

Police declared the train station safe about 5.30pm after a bomb squad robot tugged at the white Windsor Smith bag that had been left on Collins Street outside a Sumo Salad cafe in Southern Cross Station.

Out tumbled a pair of black leather shoes.

Police had taped off the Collins Street entrance to the train station as well as a tram stop and blocked part of the street before the bomb squad arrived.