The State Government insists it will keep an election promise to put armed guards at every Melbourne railway station, even though critics say they are a waste of money in some areas.

It plans to put 940 protective services officers (PSOs), armed with semi-automatic guns, on patrol at train stations at night.

Daniel Bowen from the Public Transport Users’ Association said: “When you think about it we’ve got tram stops that are much busier than this railway station."

And according to the Rail Union the PSO money should be directed elsewhere.

Trevor Dobbyn of the RU told 7NEWS: “What the system needs is more station staff - more authorised officers and more police."

Commuters have mixed reactions too about the new measures.

One female commuter said: “I actually think I would feel more comforatble with guards at the station.”

A male commuter disagreed saying: “Deploying them at every station is completely unnecessary.”