Shaun Irvine told an inquest into Yorta Yorta woman Tanya Day's death in custody he was concerned for her safety but did not offer any help or ask if she needed it.

The 55-year-old grandmother was arrested for public drunkenness on December 5, 2017, and later died from a brain haemorrhage after falling and hitting her head five times in a Castlemaine police cell.

Mr Irvine told the start of Ms Day's inquest on Monday she appeared delirious, gave unrelated answers to his questions and he was worried she could hurt herself once she got off the train.

She wasn't doing anything or being obnoxious or abusive to other passengers or staff, but Mr Irvine believed Ms Day was under the influence of a substance and classified her as "unruly".

He didn't think she needed an ambulance but organised for police to come when the Melbourne-bound train stopped at Castlemaine station.

"I believed that her safety was threatened by allowing her to continue to travel in the state she was in," Mr Irvine told the Victorian Coroners Court, citing risks such as falling or tripping.

"At the time I didn't believe she was in control of her actions."

Ms Day was removed from the carriage by two officers and died in hospital 17 days later.

Her family are pushing for CCTV footage from her time in custody to be made public.

"We think it's really important for people to see for themselves the treatment that mum had," daughter Belinda Stevens told reporters outside court.

Ms Day was captured on CCTV falling five times in the police cell within a two-and-a-half hour period. At one point, the footage showed her falling forward and hitting her forehead on the wall.

Police were meant to physically rouse Ms Day every 40 minutes - but they did not enter the cell until she was due to be released.

The family's lawyers say racism played a role in her interaction with V/Line staff, arrest and time in custody.

"How can it be that a woman so much loved ... who was hurting no one, abusing and hitting no one ... could be removed in a manner of minutes from a train on which she was travelling?" Peter Morrissey SC told the inquest.

"She was vulnerable not simply because she consumed alcohol, she was vulnerable because of who she was."

Coroner Caitlin English will hand down her decision on the release of the CCTV from the Castlemaine police station on Tuesday, before the second day of the inquest resumes.

Victoria's government has promised to abolish the offence of public drunkenness - a move recommended nearly 30 years ago by a royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody.

Australian Associated Press