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Monorail Refurbishment

In fairness if they actually thought about the parking, and started people closer to the entrance than the monorail, you wouldn’t need it.

it must also cost a fortune to run. It’s iconic yes, but is it essential? No.

there is only so many times you can patch things up. If the track can be used with new trains, then I think that is the way to go. If not, then personally I think it’s time for it to go.
 
Jb85 said:
In fairness if they actually thought about the parking, and started people closer to the entrance than the monorail, you wouldn’t need it.
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Problem is the monorail serves as a link to the 'resort' side of things and as someone who typically stays on resort, the monorail feels needed.

If the monorail was removed, to walk from Enchanted Village to the theme park... that's a heck of a distance. I did it once and it wasn't an enjoyable experience at all.

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Personally I never want to see Forbidden Valley become a new entrance. The whole Alton Towers experience is entering Towers Street with a view of the Towers right in front of you. This year more than anything Towers have shown how Towers Street/the lawns can be a hub of entertainment and a focal point, it would seem backwards to remove the park entrance from here.

Hopefully we see some form of refurbishment in the near future. If the monorail were to go, I would expect transport provisions still in place for hotel guests and people with disabilities, such as a land train.
 
We seemed to cope fine without the monorail for the 2020 season. However if it did ever get removed they need to sort the paths out. Some parts are far too small for the amount of guests using them. It would also be good to have sections under cover, properly lit up and also some audio playing.

EP/Disney style walkways would be good, but probably hard at towers just to the nature of the pathways.

The main entrance should never move, but I think the hotel entrance should stay, and should also be allowed to be used by annual pass holders if they wanted to use it.
 
I wonder if Disney World, Disneyland or Europa Park getting rid of their monorails to be replaced with prettier pathways would be brushed off as much as Alton's?

Like the repeated calls I read for the Wickerman pre show to be binned off, or that we should be grateful if they end up buying travelling flats to replace permanent themed ones that closed years ago: is this a sign of what has been accepted as the standard at Alton Towers these days? Have expectations sunk so low that we think getting rid of a genuinely useful and experience enhancing attraction is all game?
 
Tibble said:
Why bin off the Wickerman pre-show? I love it!

I like the monorail too, I think it needs improvements but I enjoy it as part of my day, Just need some improvements on the entrances
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I love the preshow too, when Covid restrictions meant it wasn't showing, I saw on Twitter that some people realised they could get on the ride 2.45234 minutes quicker so wanted it scrapped.

I think the monorail has it's place and does need to stay in some form. It just needs a big refurbishment.
Matt.GC said:
I wonder if Disney World, Disneyland or Europa Park getting rid of their monorails to be replaced with prettier pathways would be brushed off as much as Alton's?
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Slightly off-topic but funnily enough I've just watched a couple of interesting videos about the apparent falling from the top of theme parks of Disney, mostly because of the new "fastpass" system Genie+ (that appears to be horrendous and charges you for the privilege!) but also because of the magic slowly disappearing from the resorts due to them just fleecing guests out of as much of their money as possible without seemingly being interested in the unique experience anymore.

The videos talk about all the freebies that have gone from hotel packages and while it didn't really feature the monorail specifically, it did mention about the free transport to and from the parks and airport and how it's ending next year. It does make you wonder if the transport options could change at Disney over the coming years.
 
AT86 said:
This photo has confused me, is it just some trick of lighting or has the wrap been removed from this monorail train?

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Hmm, there’s certainly no wrapping there but it doesn’t look the same as what they used to look like pre-wrap. Old photo perhaps?
 
I have to say I find it quite amusing that this topic was started in 2017 and here we are in 2022 still waiting and speculating!

The ancient chariots that are the monorail cars are so outdated that I tend to skip a ride in the sweatbox in favour of a long walk and some fresh air. If I leave the park off-peak I will hitch a ride back to the car, but have been known to tackle the walk back after a long day on park.

To note, I have chronic fatigue syndrome. Yep, I choose a heckin' long walk over a queue and a sweatbox 😊

That's how much the monorail needs replacing...!
 
Sazzle said:
I have to say I find it quite amusing that this topic was started in 2017 and here we are in 2022 still waiting and speculating!

The ancient chariots that are the monorail cars are so outdated that I tend to skip a ride in the sweatbox in favour of a long walk and some fresh air. If I leave the park off-peak I will hitch a ride back to the car, but have been known to tackle the walk back after a long day on park.

To note, I have chronic fatigue syndrome. Yep, I choose a heckin' long walk over a queue and a sweatbox 😊

That's how much the monorail needs replacing...!
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Last time I used it was 2018. Since then I've either walked or got express parking. It's kind of obsolete in my opinion, especially considering that disabled parking is next to the park entrance.
 
Skyscraper said:
Last time I used it was 2018. Since then I've either walked or got express parking. It's kind of obsolete in my opinion, especially considering that disabled parking is next to the park entrance.
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Not obsolete, it's a long walk at either end of a day that already involves a lot of walking. It's a real help to a lot of people not eligible for a blue badge.

I've been confidently predicting the demise (but not removal or replacement) of the monorail for about 10 years and I'm yet to be right but I don't think the park see a long term future for it
 
Not batching pre arrival hurts the monorail so so hard. First impressions and last impressions really count, and at the moment it's harmful to both.

Either kill it or spend a relative pittance on airgates if they really don't think the same public that stand on train platforms are capable of standing on this one.
 
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