Buses ready to roll for Cup service

Hawke's Bay's Nimons coachline has been given the big tick by police safety specialists as part of a nationwide transport inspection leading up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Nimons has been sub-contracted to be the "to and from the games" passenger transport company for the Cup matches played in the Bay.
Accordingly, the 20 coaches which will be used here have undergone intensive checks - even more comprehensive than the six-monthly certificate of fitness examinations they go through.
"There are a lot of people coming here for the Cup and this is all about safety," Senior Sergeant Brian Johnson of the Ohakea-based police Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit (CVUI) said, as the four-man team went over another coach at the company's Whakatu yards.
He said standards at the companies already checked over in other regions had been very high, and Nimons had echoed that.
"Very, very good," he said, adding the only things which had been picked up were minor - such as signs on door entries and exits.
There had been no issues with anything involving the mechanical operation of the buses or passenger safety.
Nimons Hawke's Bay general manager, Pete Patterson, said the company placed major emphasis on ensuring high operating and maintenance standards.
"Everything is checked to a high degree ... we make sure our fleet is better than the required standards," Mr Patterson said.
He welcomed the intensive police and New Zealand Transport Agency check-ups and was not surprised the company emerged with flying colours.
"We're ready for the Cup," he said.
Nimons will have about 100 rostered drivers working throughout the event.
The CVUI team began at first light yesterday morning and wrapped up inspections by the end of the day, and would now check transport companies in Tauranga, Wellington and Manawatu.