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2016: The Smiler Reopening

Will you ride in 2016?

  • Yes

    Votes: 147 94.8%
  • No

    Votes: 8 5.2%

  • Total voters
    155
I only saw what was put on twitter by Susanne Reid, miss interpreted it.

But do you know what, why not get the publicity. She young, good looking, she's lost a leg through a tragedy. Why not go for everything she can. Pardon the pun but its a lucky break. The world is now her oyster. Least she aint crying about it.
 
Good morning Britain 12 april is on itv hub, vicky's interview is 85mins in.
 
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Pictures of the damage caused to one of the train. This is just shocking.
hse_alton_towers_smiler5_web-1.jpg


hse_alton_towers_smiler3_web.jpg


hse_alton_towers_smiler2_web.jpg
 
Sorry if this has been bought up before but does anyone know if we'll see any new trains for The Smiler in the future?
 
Sorry if this has been bought up before but does anyone know if we'll see any new trains for The Smiler in the future?

Yes, we are set to get two new trains which should be delivered before the summer begins. However I beleive The Smiler will only operate on a maximum of four trains.

:)
 
I have no idea, that is what I have heard though. The throughput gain from running five trains compared to four must be very minimal, on five trains I've always had to wait in the brakes for the train ahead to be dispatched.

:)
 
Running five trains has always been utterly pointless in terms of throughput.

The design is as if the rear station block was supposed to be an unload and for whatever reason it wasn't implemented as such.
 
Running five trains has always been utterly pointless in terms of throughput.

The design is as if the rear station block was supposed to be an unload and for whatever reason it wasn't implemented as such.
See I thought that too. It's just like Saw only with the ability to unload missing. I know I've seen someone blame it on cost cutting but I can't see what cost would be cut? Of you've spent £18m on a ride, surely a metal barrier and gate leading to the stairs is simple enough.
 
May I ask where this rumour about 2 additional replacement trains arriving before summer originated? Currently, I see no reason why Alton would see the need for the ride needing additional trains again until at least Scarefest this year when the queues for the ride will be big enough again.

Granted, it will be busier during summer than it is now, but probably not enough to require more than 3-4 trains.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
May I ask where this rumour about 2 additional replacement trains arriving before summer originated? Currently, I see no reason why Alton would see the need for the ride needing additional trains again until at least Scarefest this year when the queues for the ride will be big enough again.

Granted, it will be busier during summer than it is now, but probably not enough to require more than 3-4 trains.


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Probably because if something goes wrong with one of the three trains they have now they're down to 2 trains which isn't really a good thing in terms of throughput.
 
5 trains do help throughput a tiny bit, if there is a train waiting behind the station (inside the building), by waiting I mean stopped when the train in the station is dispatched the train waiting starts moving forward when the train being dispatched is 3/4 out of the station. If the trains stops behind the station as the train in the station is getting dispatched it has to wait until the station block is cleared before moving into the station, it's easier to enplane with videos. With 5 train there is always a train wait behind the station, with 4 there is a train waiting 99% of the time the other 1% the train stops as the train in the station is getting dispatched that loses about 2 seconds which isn't a lot.

This video show what happens when there is a train waiting behind the station
 
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@spinba11 - I follow that, but so often when running 5 trains there is a train behind the one waiting in the pre-station block. Also, in the example above - the capacity is only increased if it allows them to dispatch a train quicker.

For all its faults, the Smiler is actually a pretty quick loading procedure with no bags, seatbelts etc (or VR headsets... :))
 
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Good point, if a train can get into the station quicker it can get dispatched quicker as well, BTW I don't think it needs 5 trains running at once, the gain in throughput is worth sitting on the transfer track for 1 min.
 
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