Train services and attempts to tackle entrenched social disadvantage were on the agenda when Victoria's Premier met the Central Goldfields Shire yesterday.

Daniel Andrews travelled to Maryborough to announce funding to help poor school students get easier access to items such as uniforms and books.

Mr Andrews said the council used its meeting with him to lobby for extra trains to service Maryborough.

He said there was also discussion about the broader effort through the Go Goldfields program to tackle poverty and unemployment.

"They also acknowledge that there are many people in Maryborough that do it tough but there's a lot to be proud of, a lot to be optimistic about," he said.

"I think if you can get a hard-working local council, businesses and civic leadership in a town, in a city, that are committed to a better future, and you can get a government that's prepared to back them - that's how you get the best outcomes.

"The most important thing is to give everybody a fair hearing, to come to a community and listen and learn about what the opportunities for the future are.

"Clearly there is an opportunity to expand rail services and I'll be speaking with the Public Transport Minister, Jacinta Allan, about that."