Lorraine Wilson, who lives on Western Port Highway between Cranbourne and North roads, said she first heard about the possible rail link along the highway from a work colleague only a few weeks ago.

She said the road was just 25 metres from her front doorstep.

"They've already taken land from the other side of the highway for the duplication, so it will have to come from this side.

"If they put a rail link there, I'll have to look both ways before I step out!"

Ports Minister Denis Napthine told the Weekly late last year a dedicated freight road or rail line running parallel to the highway was the most likely link between the enlarged port and an 'inland port' in Dandenong or Lyndhurst.

Ms Wilson bought her 2.5-hectare property 12 years ago as an investment for her retirement.

"My plan was to retire in six-eight years, sell the house and go to live in Pambula/Merimbula, but who's going to buy it now?

"The minute they do some research they'll find out what's planned. If I sell now, I'll lose hundreds of thousands and if I wait too long and planning begins, same thing."

She said her next-door neighbour, who had lived there for 40 years, sold up last year and told her a railway line was coming through. "I said 'Surely they wouldn't do that', but he had an inkling."

Mr Napthine said discussion of compulsory acquisition of land for the link was premature until the route and the design had been decided.

He ruled out two port links floated by the previous Labor government - using the rail line from Stony Point to Frankston and building a link to the Gippsland rail line.

And he said the new port authority needed to do a better job of consultation over the route than the previous Port of Hastings Corporation.

The corporation's announcement of a preferred link through Clyde and Cranbourne several years ago led to angry public meetings.

Ray White Cranbourne principal Mark Guthrie said he had not heard the proposed rail link mentioned as a factor by buyers or sellers along the highway.

"If you're fronting onto Western Port Highway, I would suggest noise is already a big factor and I doubt that a rail line would have much added impact.

"The only downside would be if it was going to go through your backyard."