Will Ireland's public transport system be able to handle the Rugby World Cup in 2023?

What do you forsee the problem to be? 2 or 3 matches a day in the whole country early on, less at the end when the important matches are on.

Galway, Limerick,Cork Belfast, Dublin
What issues with PT would be there that aren't already happening on big sports days?

Killarney - deals with loads of tourists/big matches

Theres about 6 days between each countries games, getting from Cork to Castlebar won't be a problem.

Theres no big issue for fans who are staying for a few games, every prospective journey is do-able. From my own experience at these tourneys its normal to expect that one day between games will be 'moving day', whether it takes 5 hours or 9 hours isn't really an issue, its a lost day anyway. But there is a reasonable train service and/or a good bus network between the venue towns.

What fans definitely won't be able to do is base themselves in one big city and travel up and down to provincial venues on the day of the game, the way London based fans did for RWC2015. (though this wasn't without problems as you might have seen).

The lack of airport rail is annoying alright. But you know, Rio De Janeiro airport is much the same and they managed to host an even bigger world cup.

A lot of people will come on packages and will be bussed from hotels to matches, anyone travelling independently will probably be able to afford taxis. I don't foresee any problem, nor do I expect anyone but a complete idiot to expect bullet trains and an extensive underground railway system similar to what they found in Japan in 2019 when they land in Ireland in 2023.

P_1 wrote: »

Cardiff struggled last year at the RWC, just ask anyone else who tried to get in from Bristol or London. Our infrastructure should be able to handle it. Most people will base themselves in Dublin. Extra trains and busses can be put on to get people to Cork/Galway/Limerick

Cardiff struggled for the first game as the plans didn't adequately take account of the fact that there would be very little traffic from west of the city and that it would virtually all be from the east, unlike a home 6 Nations game.


Certainly as the tournament progressed more appropriate arrangements were in place that worked much better.

Chivito550 wrote: »

On that point, it will be interesting to see how they manage the Olympic Games. The World Cup is one thing, with just 6-7 games in Rio spread over a month, and with many flying into other cities, such as Sao Paulo. Far different proposition getting people around all the venues in the 4 different Olympic zones in Rio, when there is multiple events going on at the same time, all in Rio (barring some football matches in other cities). The public transport links look a bit weak and disjointed, and their third metro line which links Ipanema to the Olympic Park in Barra may not even be ready in time. Rio is known for its rush hour gridlock traffic so it's not like a taxi will be an easier alternative. Could be a disaster for fans and journalists trying to get from one venue in one part of the city to a venue in the other.

The Rugby World Cup is not the same scale as that, so perhaps you're right, we could manage. But at the same time, we definitely do not have an ideal public transport network for a major sporting event.

Public transport in Rio is horrendous every day of the week and driving to the airport is a nightmare except for flights which leave very late. The addition of a few hundred thousand Olympics attendees will have an effect but it will principally lead to moaning rather than true problems. The Zil lanes will play havoc with the local middle class as taxis and private cars will be slower during the olympics than at any other time (in a city where you can often take 3 hours to travel 5 miles). Spectators will need to base themselves at 1 location per day and set out very early for their events - I'm there for the full thing up to the closing ceremony for which we have tickets. Events in Barra will be a nightmare but I'm looking forward to nighttime beach volleyball - 5 minutes walk from my parents in law.

Back on topic, Ireland will be absolutely fine for the RWC. Spectators from far away will come for extended periods and many will hire cars. The difficulty will come if, for example, England plays in Killarney and London based people want to fly in last moment. Hopefully, as with New Zealand camper vans will prove popular for nomadic fans.

The transport situation would be a bit touch and go, but I think Ireland could take it if (and it's a very big if) there were level-headed and practical people organising the trains.

My reservation would be the number of hotels in some of the smaller venues (not to mention how much the price of a standard room would be bumped up by!)

Chivito550 wrote: »

Would hosting the World Cup not be a perfect opportunity to improve public transport infrastructure (regardless of whether we could get by without it or not)?

That's a different question to your original one. I don't think you'll find any body arguing that we'd like to see upgrades to infrastructure in the next 7 years

I don't think so, Dept. of Transport, Transport for Ireland, Dublin bus etc they can't deliver a service now, and they have had over 25 years to get it right have they? I mean the web summit left this Country because of the transport problems, Hotel Pricing, We can't handle a web summit, it would take all the above to put their own interest aside, work for the greater good of the country but they can't do that now.

Dodge wrote: »

Web summit left because they wanted everything for free and Lisbon was willing to do that. Nothing to do with infrastructure

+1 They wanted the Govt. to use their muscle influence to get them big discounts in D4 hotels and they tried to get Garda escorts from the airport for CEOs of techie companies!

Good riddance.

Marcusm wrote: »

Back on topic, Ireland will be absolutely fine for the RWC. Spectators from far away will come for extended periods and many will hire cars. The difficulty will come if, for example, England plays in Killarney and London based people want to fly in last moment. Hopefully, as with New Zealand camper vans will prove popular for nomadic fans.

I doubt a team such as England would be scheduled to play anywhere except Croker and the Aviva as they will pack the places out.

If it was Killarney there is an airport nearby that already has London routes and I'm sure Ryanair would love to add loads of extra flights and big prices. Special flights from other airports would also be put on. Some joined up thinking from BE to get them to Killarney. The town also has a train station and buses from all over Ireland. The biggest issue with the town would be accommodation, not lack of it but rather the costs as tourism is the towns bread and butter so demand would be high.

I doubt a team such as England would be scheduled to play anywhere except Croker and the Aviva as they will pack the places out.

They will play where they are told to play, while most of the games will be in Dublin I wouldn't expect all of them to be. It will really depend on how the groups work out. If Ireland/England were playing of course it would be Croke Park but if other teams had big ticket games at same time as England would be bumped to lower capacity grounds.

questionmark? wrote: »

That is true but can you see a team that are guranteed to sell out the big stadiums have matches put on in Killarney or Thomand Park? There is a reason the Irish, Welsh and English games for example at the last world cup were at the biggest stadiums and the likes of Georgia were playing in stadiums more like Thomand park.

Anyway back on topic. Ireland will get on fine and will get the sufficient transport in place to help make it a great world cup.

Yes because Dublin will host most (bar one likely) of Irish games and the the big ticket events. Remember along with Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France, Australasia and New Zealand will all be top contenders for Dublin games and only so many can be played

A game such as England v Japan, Canada etc would not get played in Dublin if there was major games with above teams.

Now as you say back on topic!

Chivito550 wrote: »

Good chance Japan could be one of the big teams come 2023 to be honest, but your point still stands.

TBH I would of had to Google spelling of the other weaker teams

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

What's the transport like out of the airport?

Which Airport?
The 2 at Belfast, The one near Killarney? the one near Limerick, the one for Cork or the one near Castlebar?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

He said Killarney, so I'm assuming Farranfore.

10 minute walk to train station and there is bus service, anyway for RWC additional buses would be provided etc.