Cory Acuna, 26, formerly of Kilsyth in outer Melbourne, pulled a knife from his pants and stabbed Darren Jones three times in the upper body on February 23, 2006.

Mr Jones had been sitting alone reading on the train bound for Belgrave in Melbourne's east.

Acuna, of Kilsyth, will serve a minimum of 17 years. He was convicted of murder by a Supreme Court jury in May.

Mr Jones, 28, was travelling home from a class at the Victorian College of the Arts when Acuna, who was seated opposite him, stood up.

Acuna took a large knife from his pants and stabbed Mr Jones three times in the chest as he sat reading a textbook on the Belgrave line train.

Graphic security camera footage showed the attack and Mr Jones picking up his guitar and walking from the train at Box Hill station.

He collapsed and died on the platform from a wound that pierced his rib, lung and heart.

Acuna, who injected amphetamines the night before, was arrested at the station with the bloodied knife down the front of his pants.