Subscribe to RSSU2 Trains, Bus Travel Free
U2 fans are encouraged to use free public transport and get to the Mt Smart concerts early to avoid rush-hour traffic.
Special event buses and trains are free for fans with have a pre-purchased U2 ticket for the Thursday and Friday concerts. Fans will need to hold on to their tickets until after the show to get a free return journey. Normal fares apply for passengers without a valid ticket.
Free trains will leave for Britomart every five to seven minutes after the U2 concerts to help deal with the large numbers expected each night. Trains across the Auckland network will be free to fans with U2 tickets from midday until 2am on both nights.
Bus passengers can also travel for free with a valid concert ticket on special buses to and from Mt Smart Stadium. These run to and from North Shore Busway Stations, Auckland CBD and Manukau/Botany/Pakuranga.
Gates open 4:30pm, Supporting act 7:30pm, Main act 9:15pm, Finish about 11pm
Timetables here
See Photos of the problems on Thursday night with the trains here
Penrose line on the horizon
Auckland Transport is also warning concert-goers to stay off the rail lines at all times and for drivers to take care at level crossings.
Auckland Transport Public Transport Operations Manager Mark Lambert says that on the Onehunga line trains will continue to operate as normal before and during the concert, and fans should take extra care whilst going to the concert.
“People who have been to events at Mt Smart in the past may have walked on the tracks. However with the rail line now open this is extremely dangerous.”
Fans driving to the gigs should allow plenty of time for getting to Mt Smart. Parking in the area is limited and people driving should expect delays leaving after the concerts. Gates open at 4.30pm, Jay Z plays at 7.30pm and U2 is on from 9.15pm
“Although speed restrictions will be in place people should use their common sense and stay off the rail lines. All pedestrians and motorists should take care in the area,” Mr Lambert says.
7 Comments
Do the buses pickup on the way to Mt. Smart?
@Leigh Bus details here http://maxx.co.nz/info/events/u2-360-tour.aspx
or call 09 366 6400 or 0800 10 30 80
Jon, that doesn’t answer the question. That page says where they leave from and where they go to. It doesn’t say if they stop for pickups and the route the take.
@leigh I doubt they pick up but you need to ring Maxx. They run the buses. Enjoy the show!
Like many others we thought using the train for U2 woudl be a good thing - one less car on the road & no parking hassles - Tuis! Most of the trains didn’t stop and those that did were so full you couldn’t get on - perhaps the emergency button was activiated because so many bodies were jammed in. Eventually we were told to find another way there ‘cos the trains were full even at Britomart. We arrived late & foot sore, & vowing never to use the trains again!
THANKS to all the transport staff for making our trip to U2 last night just perfect. We tossed up - bus or train, and chose the bus from Akoranga on the shore. We even had a nice guide at the station to tell us the next bus would be along soon, then we were speeding past the backed up motorway traffic. 15 minutes later, we were dropped off and reminded where to come for the return leg. After the (awesome) concert, we walked to the pickup point, straight onto a bus and were back on the shore in no time. Absolutely flawless, and free! What more could you ask?
It’s a long way back by bus in Brazil from the mythic land of the capivara…
We found your article interesting and added a Trackback to it on the Sao Paulo Informer
…