ECT was delighted to be involved in the planning and delivery during 2015 of an accessible shuttle service for all Rugby World Cup games at Twickenham and the Olympic Park.
In early 2015, ECT was involved by England 2015 to project manage and deliver accessible transport on match days. ECT led the delivery of a service in partnership with six community transport operators that helped rugby fans with mobility difficulties attend world cup matches.
Over the six-week tournament, a total of 11,149 passenger trips were made, a little fewer than 700 passengers on average at each match. Passenger numbers increased as awareness for the service grew, and at the World Cup Final itself, 977 passengers were transported to and from Twickenham Stadium.
The particular need for specialist accessible shuttles was highlighted by the number of wheelchair users who used the service: 662 over the course of the whole tournament, including 76 on the busiest night.
Shuttle bus user Julia Lock, spoke of the difference the accessible shuttle service has made to her experience of the RWC: “I suffer from severe asthma and had been very concerned about the walk to Twickenham as exercise exacerbates it. I had not been aware of the availability of the service and by the time I got from the car to the Park and Ride area I was very wheezy.
“One of your accessible shuttle drivers invited us to use the service, which was a lifesaver for me. Everyone was incredibly lovely and welcoming. Your service made my day, as without your help I would have been too unwell to have enjoyed the game.”
Mick Wright, Head of Tournament Services for England Rugby 2015, said: “Your team and your services were a genuine differentiator for this tournament and I am hugely grateful for the professionalism and dogged determination you guys put into making sure everyone understood what was needed and then delivered against it.”
Diane Morgan, Quality and Standards Manager for ECT, said: “The Rugby World Cup was a big challenge but ECT’s professionalism shone through every day. We got so much positive feedback and I am proud to have been the manager of such a great project. Would we do it all over again? You bet we would!”
Anna Whitty, CEO of ECT Charity, said: “We feel privileged to have led this collaboration to successfully deliver accessibility for all spectators at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. It was truly rewarding working with England Rugby 2015, and we thank them for their vision and commitment to making the tournament so accessible.
“The 2015 Rugby World Cup is another fantastic example of the community transport sector working together to ensure inclusion and accessibility for all members of our communities. Our hope is that the success of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Invictus Games 2014 and now the 2015 Rugby World Cup, leads to a continued commitment from all major sporting tournaments and special events in the future to share this vision of inclusiveness.”
To read more about our success at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, read our celebratory publication A Winning Team.
