7 October 2011

Travel early for RWC2011 quarter finals

Fans heading to this weekend’s Rugby World Cup 2011 quarter-finals matches at Eden Park are advised to travel early.

Public transport and roads are expected to be very busy with people heading to the matches, the Diwali festival in Aotea Square, Fanzones downtown and in Henderson, Albany and Mangere.

Kick-off for both matches is at 8.30pm and gates open at 6pm. The earlier quarter-final in Wellington on both days will be screened in full on the big screen at Eden Park on both Saturday and Sunday.

Road closures and parking restrictions in the Eden Park area will be in place from 5.30pm. A 30km/h speed limit on New North Rd through Kingsland Village will also be enforced from 5.30pm, with the road closing to general traffic from 8.30pm.

Extra trains and special event buses will again be operating for the matches on Saturday and Sunday.

From 4.30pm special event buses from outside Britomart are free with a match ticket. From 5.30pm free travel with a match ticket begins on trains and special events buses from outside the Civic on Queen St in Auckland CBD, Albany Station via all Northern Busway Station, Takapuna, Newmarket/Mt Eden and Manukau/Botany/Pakuranga.

Walking to the matches along the Fan Trail is expected to continue to be popular. For those walking to the match who plan to catch a train or special event bus home, they leave from the following locations:

• Special event buses to Auckland CBD (Britomart and midtown Queen St) – New North Rd by Stormont Place
• Special event buses to Albany and Busway stations, Takapuna, Mt Eden/Newmarket, Manukau/Botany/Pakuranga – Eden Park bus hub
• Trains to Auckland CBD/Britomart – Kingsland Station, trains to west Auckland – Morningside Station.
An increase in people travelling to the matches by coach is expected for the knock out matches.

Transport to Eden Park:

Driving:

• Parking restrictions and road closures will be in place around Eden Park and public parking will be outside the residential parking zones. If you are dropping people off at the event, the main drop off point is on Dominion Rd. Parking on streets outside the residential parking zones will involve a short walk to the stadium. People planning to drive are advised to carpool.
• A limited number of accessible parking spaces will be provided in Bellwood Road (between Cromwell Street and Dominion Road), an orange mobility sticker is required for access. A shuttle service will operate between this point and the venue.

Walking: Following the Fan Trail from Auckland's waterfront is a great way to get to the match, more information at www.auckland2011.com.

Taxi:

• Taxi drop off points are on Bond St and Dominion Rd pre match and after the match taxi ranks are on Dominion Rd and New North Rd
• A mobility taxi rank is located in Bellwood Avenue near Cromwell Street for mobility drop off / pick up. A shuttle operates to and from the stadium. People being picked up need to make sure the vehicle is in place before the end of the match to avoid the road closures.

Special event buses:

• To Eden Park from Britomart and the Civic Theatre on Queen St every 5 minutes , Albany every 10 minutes via all Northern Busway Stations, Takapuna from Hurstmere Rd every 15 minutes, Newmarket and Mt Eden every 10 minutes and from Manukau city centre/Botany Town Centre/Pakuranga Plaza every 30 minutes
• Free shuttle bus from Whangaparaoa Plaza via Silverdale to Albany Bus Station (5 & 5.30pm) to connect with the Albany special event bus.
• Special event buses are accessible for the mobility impaired.

Trains:

• Approximately every 5-7 minutes between Britomart and Kingsland (between 5.37pm – 7.44pm and after the match), stopping only at Grafton Station on the way
• Three additional direct services from Papakura to the match, calling all stations to Newmarket, then Grafton and direct to Kingsland
• Trains from the west run to Morningside approx. every 15 minutes in the lead up to matches and every 10 to 15 minutes after matches
• Train services are accessible for the mobility impaired, a free mobility shuttle operates between Morningside Station and Eden Park
• From about 4pm there will be changes to entrances at Britomart please follow the directions of Auckland Transport Ambassadors.

Tickets are available to both Auckland quarter-finals via www.rugbyworldcup.com/tickets or through Ticketek.

ENDS

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