Dunedin (Monday, 22 August): Additional public bus services are being rolled out for Rugby World Cup 2011 match days in Dunedin.

The arrangements are the result of a Dunedin City Council-led initiative to minimise traffic congestion, and ensure that people can get to and from the ground as seamlessly as possible.

All scheduled bus services will operate as usual on all four match days. However, services from the outlying areas of Brighton, Mosgiel, Otago Peninsula, and Port Chalmers will be boosted, with many additional services before and after each of the matches.

Standard fares and concessions apply to these services and there will be some minor modifications to the usual bus routes due to match day road closures.

New “post-match loop services” will run after each match from the centre of town in four directions.

The four circuits, which will each cost $5 per person, will go north to Noth East Valley and Leith Valley Motor Camp; west to Maori Hill, Roslyn and Kaikorai Valley; south to Caversham and St Clair; and east to St Kilda, Tahuna, and Musselburgh.

The loop services will begin about an hour after each game ends, giving fans time to make their way into town and will end between 1am and 2am for the two early matches (6pm kick-off), and between 2am and 3am for the two later matches (8.30pm kick-off).

The first two trips of each of the four ‘loop’ circuits will depart from Cumberland Street, outside Centre City New World, but from then on all buses will depart from Princes Street, immediately south of the Octagon.

Before and after the matches, a 'Park 'n Ride' bus service will also run from Midland Street (opposite the Edgar Sports Centre) to the north end of Ward Street, at a cost of $2 per person.

The ORC GoCard can be used on all Rugby World Cup bus services, giving users a 10% discount off the cash fare. However, the match day ‘Park ‘n Ride’ and ‘loop’ services are not eligible for the ORC SuperGold Card.

Public transport is also being provided by commuter train services from Waitati and Mosgiel, before and after each match. Tickets are limited, but are now available from Taieri Gorge Ltd or Dunedin's i-SITE Visitor Centre. The cost is $20 return per person.

Full details of all services and fares will be available in the special ODT Rugby World Cup supplement, which will be published on 5 September. They will also be posted on the Otago Regional Council website (www.orc.govt.nz) as soon as possible.

ENDS

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