Cape Town to provide efficient transport for visitors to the World Cup 2010

Cape Town’s Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system is progressing according to a long term plan, but the City officials assure visitors to the South Africa World Cup 2010, that the first phase of the service, which will comprise bus services between the IRT stations at the Cape Town International Airport, the large IRT station at the Civic Centre and Cape Town Stadium will be in operating in time for the tournament to be able to efficiently convey visitors to their Cape Town holiday accommodation and to the Stadium . Additionally, a smaller ‘feeder service’ around the city bowl area that will have passengers embarking and disembarking at clearly marked kerb side points will also have been completed.

The airport-to-city link includes the construction of IRT stations at the Civic Centre, Stadium and Cape Town airport ; directly outside the entrance to the newly built terminal building and serviced by metered taxis and provincial buses. 43 newly purchased integrated rapid transit busses will be deployed to ferry visitors to Cape Town for the World Cup. The IRT busses take up to 150 passengers and luggage. Buses will make use of the existing road network, using the reserved bus and minibus taxi lane from Cape Town airport along the N2 freeway, resulting in travel time savings during peak periods.

Buses will generally depart from the airport about every seven minutes. After 22:00, and before 06:00, departures will be available and limited to every 15 minutes to 20 minutes. The airport link is designed to drop visitors off at the Civic Centre station, in the CBD, from where passengers can use other bus and taxi services to their hotels.

A free shuttle bus service for match ticket holders will run from the main transport hub in Hertzog Boulevard to Cape Town Stadium in Green Point. This service will operate from four hours before kick-off, until four hours after the final whistle. Buses will depart every three to five minutes, depending on demand. It will take less than a minute to fill an IRT bus with spectators after a match.
Disabled spectators will be transported by the city's Dial-a-Ride buses from Hertzog Boulevard to the stadium.

Kylie Hatton, the City of Cape Town’s Media Manager, says that, when FIFA World Cup visitors arrive at Cape Town International Airport, staff will be on hand to explain how the system works; travel information will be made available, and tickets will be sold at the airport’s IRT station kiosk.
Ms Hatton said the IRT would benefit all residents and tourists visiting Cape Town and will ensure safe, efficient, quality public transport around the city. The first phase will include the airport–city link and the city–stadium link and which will be completed in time for the World Cup in 2010. The new IRT system will be rolled out in phases over the next ten to fifteen years. Once complete it will cover the entire city and surrounding suburbs.. As the name suggests, IRT is a new integrated transport system that aims to connect and complement the various modes of transport around Cape Town and its surrounding suburbs through the use of minibuses and buses of different sizes.
Once up and running the IRT system will resolve daily traffic congestion. “More people will use public transport once they see how fast, safe and reliable the IRT system will be,” said Ms. Hatton. “With fewer private cars driving to work every day, the IRT will reduce carbon emissions in the city. "A world class public transport system would also make Cape Town more enticing to tourists.

A train service operates across the main suburbs of the city, and may be the best transport option for those staying in the suburbs. The central Cape Town station is a short walk from the transport hub in Hertzog Boulevard. The 25 stations in the Cape Town metro area have more than 7 000 parking bays. Park-and-ride schemes, where fans can park their cars and be ferried to the stadium and fan parks, are also being put in place at railway stations across the city. The aim is to discourage the use of private transport. All the park-and-ride facilities would be safe, secure and well lit.

A park-and-ride service with the same hours of operation as the shuttle bus will run from the University of Cape Town’s upper campus in Rondebosch to the main transport hub, and will be free of charge for match ticket holders.

If you are still wondering where to stay in Cape Town, be assured that the city is doing everything possible to make it easy for you to get to be World Cup matches the matter where you choose accommodation.
For more details of the city's transport plan see their website :
http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/irt/Pages/CapeTownsnewIRTisunderconstruction.aspx