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Incident on The Smiler 02/06/2015

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Wonder what the upper wind limit is on the new devices for the ride to operate? It's pretty gusty today so can't see today being the day. 15 knots at East Midlands
 
Leah said:
no.
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I wouldn't be so sure it won't be announced. If they announce it it gives them a step ahead of the media frenzy that will ensue if they open it on the quiet. It will give them an opportunity to get a clear statement out that can't be twisted.
 
Tom.B said:
We noticed this yesterday and I said the same thing, however they have made a gap in the fencing big enough for your arm to fit through, so the e-stop button can be easily pressed. I can only assume they've put it there to stop people accidentally pressing it when walking down into the pit. :)
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Funny story about this. I was once operating a ride that got shut down for 15 minutes by a kid pressing the E-Stop. It was like this one but needed to be to be reset each cycle. They'd obviously seen me use it before and thought they'd be helpful by pressing it while I was helping someone else. I turned around just to see the whole ride shut down.

Thankfully this one should be better hidden.
 
But if it's announced, and they have a breakdown on the day, then they have to tell everyone (and the swarms of reporters) that it's having issues. Unannounced, they can simply try again tomorrow.

Also, why would you give the media a chance to be there. It can't benefit towers in any way.
 
I am curious how they'll handle the reopening, certain papers are going to get silly no matter what so I don't think they'll do it just to attempt to kill that, as it will be futile. I do wonder if they will try to temper it with a statement though, advise that HSE have signed off and their own investigations have found - findings - (any borderlands players should shout that in Torge's inimitable tone) ...New measures in place etc. Or maybe another visit to advise the victims about the reopening so they can be prepared for any spluttering media idiocy.
 
I think the ride will be reopened, and a statement sent to the various media around the same time.

They know the media will cover it negatively, but they sort of have to embrace it as I mentioned before, put out a statement so they at least get their word in (albeit likely towards the end of any articles).

There will not be any advance warning, as they don't want a media circus on the first day it reopens, and they don't want any silly "stop the reopening" type comments from newspapers by giving advanced warning. Get it reopen, put out a statement. The media turn up to the park a day late, after a successful day of operation already completed.
 
Quick thought - didn't Nick Varney publicly say that he would be the first person to ride The Smiler once it reopens, to "prove that the necessary safety precautions have been made to prevent this incident from happening again on the ride" (or something similar to that)? If so, then what's the odds on Alton Towers actually releasing a press statement on the day of the ride opening (maybe near the end of the day), which basically explains the decision to reopen in AT's own words (no media spin etc), along with a video of him riding the ride and a few quotes from HSE on what additional safety precautions have been added to the ride to prevent this happening again. That would hopefully minimise as much press as possible, by NOT releasing a press statement I reckon AT will get more heat from the media, and it'll attract headlines such as "Alton Towers reopens 'horror ride' unannounced as victims continue rehabilitation"

* headline obviously sensationalised, as this is the media we're talking about after all!
 
The Smiler looked ready to open yesterday. There have been lots of little changes around the ride since my last visit and the only work taking place was some cleaning of the pit. Clearly this is in preparation to open, otherwise why bother cleaning it! I imagine Towers are just waiting for the all clear to open which will probably come direct from Nick Varney. If it's not this week then it will surely be next week, they're probably waiting for whatever could be deemed the 'right' moment to minimise the negative impact.

:)
 
I'd imagine that they are also waiting for decent weather. Probably want to minimize the chance of a breakdown as much as possible.
 
Danza91 said:
It will be interesting to see how the park handle the reopening of it.
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As has already been said on here, I think there will be no announcement. It will open around 1/2 pm. Varney will have a statement ready. The queue will open after he gets off. The media will be there almost immediately to ask people why they want to ride that death trap.
 
Personally, now, I think the best way is for Nick Varney to release a video statement basically saying "We once again regret what happened, we've added new safety features, you've seen me just get off it and it's a top ride, come back... Come back... COME BACK*"

*Like Rose in Titanic.
 
Danza91 said:
"We once again regret what happened, we've added new safety features, you've seen me just get off it and it's a top ride, come back... Come back... COME BACK*"
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They can play it constantly on the marmaliser screen for the first week of it opening.
 
They have to make an announcement of some sort. The public will want to know what extra safety measures have been implemented. If its not direct to the media, it will be on their website.
 
I would say release a statement as they open the queue the ride then the media know but won't be waiting for when it opens.
 
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