MELBOURNE'S railway stations are badly designed, unpleasant places that will be incapable of handling predicted passenger growth, an influential public transport academic says.

Melbourne University transport strategist Chris Hale argues that the city's railway stations are well behind world standards and need major investment to turn them into vibrant public places that can also efficiently handle peak-hour commuter bursts.

Illustration: Matt Golding.

Dr Hale has received $156,000 in seed funding for his train-station rejuvenation proposal, but says it is a task transport planners and operators need to attack with much greater urgency.

He points to his local station, Moreland, as a case study. Its list of flaws is as long as it would be familiar to hordes of other suburban commuters around the city: limited shelter, poor passenger information, no toilet, no staff, no kiosk, a single entry/exit point inconveniently situated for people coming from the nearest main street, and a generally tired appearance.