The accident happened when a truck attempting to drive across a level crossing in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong South was struck by the passenger train, police investigators have been told.

"As a result of the collision, one of the train carriages tipped over while three other carriages derailed," Victoria Police said in a statement.

"Emergency workers located a man in cardiac arrest near the train cabin. Despite attempts by paramedics to treat the man, he died at the scene."

The train driver suffered a leg injury while the driver of the truck did not require hospital treatment.

Several passengers also received minor injuries, police said.