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FORUMS - COASTERFORCE
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Accident at Alton Towers
- Thread starter silenthillXD
- Start date
SaiyanHajime
CF Legend
Does anyone know if Saw's capacity been nerfed? I've not been to Thorpe this year.
Re Rattlesnake, **** knows what the problem is. I heard Tomb Blaster is also closed, whether that's a coincidence or not we will probably never know for sure.
I would guess that enhanced h&s in areas unrelated to the accident is keeping Rattle closed. Obviously it initially closed following multi-car concerns, but the fact that even Saw is back up whilst Rattle isn't leads me to assume there's an unrelated issue they either encountered whilst reevaluating post-Smiler, or its some weird coincidence, which wouldn't surprise me given Chessie's appalling track record with ride availability.
Re Rattlesnake, **** knows what the problem is. I heard Tomb Blaster is also closed, whether that's a coincidence or not we will probably never know for sure.
I would guess that enhanced h&s in areas unrelated to the accident is keeping Rattle closed. Obviously it initially closed following multi-car concerns, but the fact that even Saw is back up whilst Rattle isn't leads me to assume there's an unrelated issue they either encountered whilst reevaluating post-Smiler, or its some weird coincidence, which wouldn't surprise me given Chessie's appalling track record with ride availability.
I think this story has gone over the hump and is now on the decline.
Alton have accepted responsibility, those involved have admirably accepted their life-changing injuries and according to recent news reports, the public accept that it was a rare incident.
There will be a few more low-key sensationalised reports but the worst is over.
Maybe a re-opening this year would make sense. Open it in October, get all the related press out of the way and it'll be largely forgotten about by the start of the 2016 season.
Alton have accepted responsibility, those involved have admirably accepted their life-changing injuries and according to recent news reports, the public accept that it was a rare incident.
There will be a few more low-key sensationalised reports but the worst is over.
Maybe a re-opening this year would make sense. Open it in October, get all the related press out of the way and it'll be largely forgotten about by the start of the 2016 season.
SilverArrow
Certified Ride Geek
Was just discussing these recent developments on TT as they have gone into quite some detailed speculation (as they usually do). The current theory re the box in the pic is that it's an additional manual override button that means that to do an override an op must physically walk out and press this button (as well as others being pressed, possibly simultaneously), thus ensuring that the batwing is physically viewed (not via cctv) every time any manual override takes place. Could be wrong but this theory seems logical.
My personal deductions were that a) this points towards there being some element of human error having been involved in the incident for sure (we knew it was most likely but were not for 100% certain) and b) that hopefully this is one of a few changes as this doesn't solve other issues such as the stalling. The public will also be better pleased if they can announce that they've made a number of changes. Again, people discussed what the likely terms of the H&S investigation could be (i.e. would they even need to solve the stalling or could they just improve safety checking etc). It's all out there on their forum but I thought I'd condense the bits I had read recently as it is a mammoth thread!
So TLDR: One of possibly a number of positive changes seem to be taking place (if speculations are correct). Basically: Stuff is happening.
I will be quite shocked if it opens for scarefest as it seems unlikely but we'll see.
My personal deductions were that a) this points towards there being some element of human error having been involved in the incident for sure (we knew it was most likely but were not for 100% certain) and b) that hopefully this is one of a few changes as this doesn't solve other issues such as the stalling. The public will also be better pleased if they can announce that they've made a number of changes. Again, people discussed what the likely terms of the H&S investigation could be (i.e. would they even need to solve the stalling or could they just improve safety checking etc). It's all out there on their forum but I thought I'd condense the bits I had read recently as it is a mammoth thread!
So TLDR: One of possibly a number of positive changes seem to be taking place (if speculations are correct). Basically: Stuff is happening.
I will be quite shocked if it opens for scarefest as it seems unlikely but we'll see.
owentaylor121
Giga Poster
I really do hope it opens for scarefest, seeing it closed with no music or flashy lights just creates a strange atmosphere across X-Sector. The fact that these improvements are being done now when they could have just been done in the closed season also indicates that they will reopen it for scarefest.
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Smithy
Strata Poster
Override makes sense. Seems like an awful lot of faff brought on by the ride being built shoddily though.
Think Ian has a good point, open it at the tail end of the season without fuss and by next season it'll all be forgotten about. Though I still think the first time it breaks down will be breaking news.
Think Ian has a good point, open it at the tail end of the season without fuss and by next season it'll all be forgotten about. Though I still think the first time it breaks down will be breaking news.
SaiyanHajime
CF Legend
This makes a tonne of sense, not only because it adds a layer and another individual to give the all clear, but because I think they've done something very similar to this before.SilverArrow said:
I noticed last year that Dragons Fury at Chessie had a switch or something on the other side of the station the staff had to turn. I could be wrong, but I'm sure that never used to be there, because I remember the staff on that side used to be the really enthusiastic interactive ones who had free hands.
What people don't realise, even us, is that safety alterations to rides are made all the time even without accidents occurring. If something is deemed even possible, it changes the way things are done. I bet most of the operational changes we complain about are actually rooted in H&S, comes to think of it.
Anyone seen that new gate at Vampire's exit? Lol.
All this does still beg the question of whether Smiler was ever fit for purpose, though. I can never tell if its seemingly never ending list of problems is as bad as it looks, or if they're related or coincidental. The track separation incident is still the most shocking to me - but I'm not an engineer, I don't know how likely that really was. In the wake of the crash, I can't help wonder how they knew the track had separated and to stop operations, but not that a bloody great train, visible on CCTV, was... there.
SilverArrow
Certified Ride Geek
I hope they release some info not only on the H&S report (and causes) but also on what they have done to reduce risks when they reopen it. The reason why this story is dragging on so much now is because of the speculation of the unknowns.
spicy
Giga Poster
Joey said:In the wake of the crash, I can't help wonder how they knew the track had separated and to stop operations, but not that a bloody great train, visible on CCTV, was... there.
That's a great point I had never even thought about before.
But yeah I agree with what others have already said, I think a scarefest opening makes sense even though it does seem unlikely. I guess they won't announce it or anything, it will just randomly open one day and then social media will go crazy. Then if it has a routine breakdown the press will jump on it, which is inevitable so may as well get it out of the way this season.
owentaylor121
Giga Poster
The Smiler has been testing this morning! Towers Street have a video on Facebook, I'm pretty certain for a Scarefest opening now!
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owentaylor121
Giga Poster
I should have worked it better, I'm more hopeful for it to be open for Scarefest now.Ben said:
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