Whether it's a Bon Iver album launch on a cheap boombox in a graffitied laneway, or a long abandoned crashed Camry given an arty metallic sheen, it seems there's no end to the city's 'enthusiastic' creativity.

Now, Melbourne's getting a book club on a train.

"Yes, we have heard that," co-creator Ali Berg laughs, when told of the eye-rolling "that's so Melbourne" reaction some have had to the event.

"It is very Melbourne; I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. There's been a great response in other cities, too – I think it's very Australian."

The subscription-based event - organised by Books On The Rail, the guerrilla project of copywriter Berg and primary school teacher Michelle Kalus, who, along with a team of volunteer 'book ninjas', have been leaving behind free novels aboard the city's trains for months in a fun attempt to get local commuters reading again – is being held in the last carriage of the 11.14am Frankston line train (final destination: Flinders Street) on the first Saturday of December.

To score an invite, readers need to sign up online for what's essentially "a blind date with a book", says Berg. All applicants will score the same 'secret' book in the mail, and after reading it, will meet up for the train chat.

"We'll start at the very end of the Frankston line; we'll pop our heads out at each station, and you can join at any stop you want," Berg explains.

From there, they'll gather with about 30 other readers to discuss the novel between stops, over light refreshments (and, I guess, the train guard's annoying announcements).

Launched in April, Books On The Rail now has over 700 'book ninjas' onboard, who have set over 3000 books – from local faves like Maxine Beneba Clarke's The Hate Race to international bestsellers like, appropriately, Paula Hawkins' The Girl On The Train – into circulation.

Barring any logistical missteps, the book club will spread to other stations, and potentially even Sydney and Brisbane in coming months.

But first off, why the Frankston line? For a potential view of manic seagulls?

"It's a quick line - not too long, not too short," says Berg. "And it's accessible to everyone; there's a lot of stops in the middle of the city, there's a lot of stops in outer Melbourne, as well."

The duo have the support of "friends at Metro Trains" to make sure the event flows smoothly, she adds.

"The only real issue we're worried about is people missing the train."