The two trains, to be built by Bombardier, will carry out the testing required by regulatory bodies before a full order is made for the track to be upgraded by mid-2021.

The revelation came during a workshop held in Wangaratta this week by Transport for Victoria into the design of the replacement trains.

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The workshop was a politician-free zone with the exception of local government in a move which has angered shadow minister for regional public transport and North-East MP Steph Ryan, who was told by the government it wouldn't be "appropriate" for her to attend.

"The invitation-only workshop only targets a small percentage of the local community for their feedback and raises further questions about the government's transparency with this project," she said.

In attendance were Border Rail Action Group, disability and bicycle tourism advocacy groups with BRAG spokesman John Dunstan stating the workshop was a positive event.

"Contrary to most of the community consultation events BRAG has attended over recent years, it seems that the input given to the designers is going to be used immediately.," he said.

"Consequently we are happy about that."

The North-East trains will be three-car sets as per the rest of the Victorian broadgauge passenger network, but internal arrangements will be modified to provide facilities needed on a long-haul route compared to those operating on the Bendigo and Ballarat lines.

Mr Dunstan said the interior fitout changes compared to the existing N-Class trains will be a significant reduction in seating with a decrease to about 150 seats per three-car set.

"This has implications for the total number of train sets required to be ordered," he said.

"It says to us at BRAG that a minimum of eight, three-car trainsets would be required to give us any hope of an improved frequency of service or replacement of some of the current mixed bus and train services."

Due to disability access regulations seating will be a "two by two" configuration and there will be only one class of seating and no separate baggage car.

A coffee bar and mobile-phone signal enhancements will also be included.

Transport minister Melissa Horne said it was disappointing Ms Ryan had "politicised" the workshop.

"We'll continue working with locals, which is what happened on Wednesday, to get the best design for the new trains," she said.

But, member for Indi Helen Haines also expressed her disappointment train travellers didn't have a voice at the woirkshop.

"The people of the North-East who use this train service have a lot to offer," she said.

"They know what doesn't work, what can be improved and what they'd like a comfortable, reliable and efficient service to look and feel like in the future

"Given the significance of this for so many people and the hard work done by offices like mine and others to ensure the community voice is heard so the service, when it comes, exceeds expectations.

"It's unusual that the department decided not to consult openly and widely, but I'm very pleased that Border Rail Action Group's Bill Traill and John Dunstan took part in the forum.

"But if you want community confidence in the process and the outcome, you need to take the community into your confidence."