Disused train carriages are being considered as shelter for the growing number of Melbourne residents living on the streets.

Tom Keel, a lecturer in sustainable construction Deakin University, told the ABC he has spoken to Melbourne's suburban train operator about converting disused train carriages into shelter for the city's growing number of homeless.

"They have around 50 empty carriages that have been put out of service and they've got no purpose at the moment," Keel told 774 ABC Melbourne.

"We're thinking of refitting them with bunks, and one of the carriages [would] be purely for laundry and for shower services, and other carriages purely for meals," said Keel.

Brendon Nottle, from The Salvation Army, said they have also spoken to Metro about a similar idea that would see the carriages set up around Melbourne, for example in Dandenong.

A spokesperson from Metro Trains, Marcus Williams told the ABC, "We are already well progressed scoping how disused train carriages could form part of the solution to homelessness and a need for crisis accommodation in our community."

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