NEWS ARTICLE: 'Candidates urged to back rail's return', The Great Southern Star, Wednesday the 15th of June 2016, Page 14 PROPOSALS for improved transport in South Gippsland - including returning rail to Leongatha - have been handed to McMillan candidates as the federal election draws near. South and West Gippsland Transport Group released its proposals to McMillan's eight candidates on Friday, asking them to pledge their advocacy for the desired solutions. South Gippsland Shire Councillor Andrew McEwen, chair of the transport group, said the proposals would include a feasibility study for reinstating passenger trains to Leongatha in a loop from Cranbourne to Pakenham. "Planning and eventually building the rail lop from Cranbourne to Pakenham will allow almost all of the 700,000 people due to be living in that region by 2030 to be within five to 10 minutes of a railway station," Cr McEwen said. Cr McEwen said undertaking an integrated transport plan for Southern Gippsland would identify the best way to deal with three million tonnes of freight coming into and out of Southern Gippsland, which is currently dependent on the congested Monash Freeway.