Auckland Transport Prepared for Rugby World Cup

Following media criticism over its readiness for the expected influx of tens of thousands of Rugby World Cup visitors in 2011, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) has announced that it is well prepared.
The Authority was responding to the release of information contained in a draft transport strategy written in July 2009 for the Rugby World Cup.
ARTAâs Project Director for the Rugby World Cup, Bruce Barnard explained that the draft report "only tells half the story, the fact is we are well prepared and have stepped up to the demands required for an event of this nature and importance to the country.
âThe draft report highlighted the fact that although public transport operators had previously moved thousands of people for local events a much more sophisticated level of preparation was required for an event of this nature. ARTA is focused on the best customer experience possible.
âSince the report was written, a great deal of progress has been made in planning for Cup matches in Auckland with a strongly co-ordinated approach between ARTA, Eden Park and Auckland City.
âOur planning for RWC2011 is based on the non-private car usage at other major events worldwide where it is common for over 60% of the attendance to use public transport.
âA large number of people attending the matches, particularly the finals, will not have access to a car and therefore will rely on public transport and taxi to get them to and from the event.
âIn respect of rail transport, 15,000 customers will be moved by rail between Kingsland to Britomart. One train will run every five minutes over a seventy-minute time frame.
âTo be able to move customers by train, nine trains will be used between Kingsland and Britomart. These trains will be parked between Morningside and Kingsland so that train operations can move swiftly away from Eden Park to clear 15,000 people in 70 minutes. A further two trains will be located at Morningside to move 1,400 people out to the western suburbs.
âOn the buses, approximately 7,400 customers will be moved by special event bus services around the city to and from Eden Park. Buses will be placed at the permanent Eden Park Bus Terminal on the south west side of the stadium and a temporary bus terminal on New North Road will be the pick-up, drop-off point for midtown buses.
âWe will be moving 15,000 people by coach. A number of coaches will park within walking distance to Eden Park. The remaining coaches will be drop-off, pick-up arrangements in two designated areas close to Eden Park.
"Three thousand people will be moved by taxi and we estimate 3,000 people walking.
âFor North Harbour Stadium, buses will be the main form of public transport and it is expected that approx 10,000 people will be moved by bus from around the region.
âOther groups will already have package tours arranged and coaches will transport them to and from the ground.
âAucklandâs beautiful harbour will also provide a key focus and we will be utilising ferry travel from all points with enhanced services for special events when required.
âThat is a synopsis of the detailed work ARTA has undertaken since the writing of the draft report last year. The Rugby World Cup is a premier sporting event for Auckland and New Zealand and our approach now and as we move forward reflects that�?, Barnard concluded.