In a submission to Sir Rod Eddington's East West Link Needs Assessment report, the coalition urged an immediate feasibility study into a rail line linking areas such as Monash University, Mulgrave, Waverley Park and the City of Knox.

The coalition is made up of seven eastern metropolitan councils, including the City of Monash.

Monash Mayor Paul Klisaris last week said the council's priority was for improved SmartBus services rather than a new railway line. He said the council's focus was on short- to medium-term public transport options for people travelling to work in Monash from surrounding municipalities.

"Bus services provide the greatest flexibility to get people to and from their place of work within the region.

"The rail line to Knox is regarded as a worthy long-term goal but does not appear to be in the State Government's long-term priorities at this stage.''

Gerry Kottek, Monash's councillor representative on the coalition, said the Rowville rail link along North and Wellington roads would impact upon traffic and aesthetics.

"There's some good reason for having a train down there ... it would service the university area and it would service the Mulgrave area, but there are community impacts of running a dirty big train down North Road.''

Cr Kottek said the council backed the coalition's overall submission because it supported a more integrated public transport plan in Melbourne's east.

Mulgrave Ward councillor Charlotte Baines said there was a particular need for improved public transport in suburbs such as Waverley Park and Mulgrave. "We just need more ways to get people from A to B. We do need something and we do need solutions.''

Monash Liveability Coalition spokeswoman Marian Quartly said the area needed more buses and the "essential'' Rowville rail link.

"We can't use buses to get all the way to work. Most people need to take a bus and a train.''

Coalition chairman Nick Van de Vreede will speak on the Rowville rail link at a Monash Liveability Coalition forum at Notting Hill Neighbourhood House, 37 Westerfield Drive, Notting Hill, 7.30-9pm next Monday. John Shrives of the Brandon Park Residents' Group will also lead a discussion on how to work for better liveability in the City of Monash.