Buses win in RWC2011 festivities

More than 13,000 people used special bus services laid on for the three Rugby World Cup 2011 games in New Plymouth this month.

An estimated 12,000 fans used shuttle buses to travel between the New Plymouth CBD and Stadium Taranaki before and after the games, while more than 1,000 people took advantage of special regional bus services from towns throughout Taranaki.

The response has pleased the Taranaki Regional Council, which provides the region’s Citylink and SouthLink bus services and agreed to organise and fund extra public transport for the Rugby World Cup 2011 events, working closely with the New Plymouth District Council.

“It was great to see a large number of people embrace public transport to get to and from these special events,” says the Council’s Director-Operations, Rob Phillips. “It helped to ease congestion and enhanced the wonderful mood of celebration at each of the three games.”

Special buses were laid on from Urenui, Waitara, Bell Block, Oakura, Inglewood, Stratford, Opunake and Hawera and Mr Phillips says arrangements ran smoothly, with good feedback.

“For the first game, between Ireland and USA, we had 180-plus bookings from Oakura and laid on five buses. There were also good loadings from other centres.”

Up to 27 buses were used in the CBD-Stadium shuttle service, which also ran smoothly. “The atmosphere was really great and with so many enthusiastic fans, the shuttle buses were fun to be on.”