Warning after almost 1000 people injured while drunk on Melbourne trains

Authorities are warning people to be safe this New Year's Eve as statistics show almost 1000 people have injured themselves while drunk on Melbourne's Metro network in the past year.

A total of 993 incidents on the Metro network involving intoxicated or unruly passengers were recorded in 2019, including people falling off platforms or down platform stairs.

There are more than 9,000 CCTV cameras across the Metro network, with stations monitored 24 hours a day.

To keep passengers safe, Authorised Officers and Metro's dedicated Network Security and Surveillance team are working closely with Victorian Police this New Years' Eve.

The staff increase comes as a pedestrian is in a critical condition after being hit by a tram in St Kilda yesterday.

Emergency services were called to Fitzroy Street just before 5PM following reports a man had walked into the path of an oncoming tram.

Witnesses told police the man had exited a nearby pub before stumbling onto the road and in front of the tram.

The man, believed to be in his 50s, was taken to Alfred Hospital suffering head injuries.

He remains in a critical condition.