'Push for rail ramps up effort', story from the Cranbourne Leader, Wednesday the 8th of June 2016, Page 7, By Peter Strachan CALLS TO REOPEN LEONGATHA LINE BACKS LEADER CAMPAIGN A SOUTH Gippsland push to reopen the Leongatha rail line has added weight to Leader’s campaign for a train line to Clyde. The South West Gippsland Transport Users Group is calling for a three-line service from Lang Lang to the city, with V/line and Metro services grade separated from Clyde to the city. The group’s co-chairman, Max Semken said the link the group wanted was supported by a key rail union, and it would use existing rail easements and be capable of carrying up to 200 trains a day. “By separating the V/line and Metro tracks from Clyde, the number and speed of trains increases dramatically,” Mr Semken said. “Our advice is that affordable upgrades would be needed to the existing Metro track from Dandenong to the city,” he said. “But with the easements already in place, it should still be quite viable and could be brought into service in a reasonable time frame.” The group is hoping to persuade federal politicians and candidates in next month’s election to show their support for the project. “This is not pie in the sky,” Mr Semken said. “It’s just thinking outside the square, but the technology exists, the easement exists and some of the track is already in place.” Rail, Tram and Bus Union spokesman Amedeo Daprano said his organisation was keen to see the Leongatha line reopened. “It has enormous benefits for industry and commuters alike and the concept of separating different classes of traffic certainly speeds the flow,” Mr Daprano said. “We certainly agree that getting the line up and running needs to happen now, given the enormous growth in demand.” Source: http://leader.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swgt.org.au/photos/a.552041518203432.1073741827.551962224878028/1059325027475076/?type=3