on 24 july 1993, the last regular v/line passenger train operated to leongatha with p class diesel locomotive number 18 hauling the return passenger train with a set of 4 h-set carriages. following the withdrawal of all rail service beyond koala siding, the section of track from nyora to leongatha was transferred to the south gippsland railway in 1994, the south gippsland railway was founded in 1990 as the "great southern railway society", based at nyora, with the intention of preserving the line in case of closure. on 15 january 1998, all regular v/line services ceased on the line after the withdrawal of the australian glass manufacturing sand train, that operated between the sand mine at koala siding, situated between lang lang and nyora railway stations, and the agm siding at spotswood. since april 1998, no trains have operated beyond cranbourne.