• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Monorail Accident?

comment from alton towers on the facebook page;

Hi Jordan, with regards your on-going comments about Sunday, I can confirm that a train from the Monorail transportation system stopped suddenly whilst it was on its way back from the Park to the car parks. A full investigation is now underway to determine the cause and the system will remain closed until that is completed; however we are confident that it will prove to be an entirely isolated incident. A small number of people sustained cuts and bruises and they were treated by the Resort’s First Responders at the scene and in the First Aid centre; the Emergency Services were not required. I hope this puts your mind at ease Jordan; rest assured we believe our standards are the benchmark within the industry and health & safety remains at the heart of our business.
Click to expand...

And top comment there from Tom, need a thread for stuff like that. :)
 
Ben. said:
comment from alton towers on the facebook page;

Hi Jordan, with regards your on-going comments about Sunday, I can confirm that a train from the Monorail transportation system stopped suddenly whilst it was on its way back from the Park to the car parks. A full investigation is now underway to determine the cause and the system will remain closed until that is completed; however we are confident that it will prove to be an entirely isolated incident. A small number of people sustained cuts and bruises and they were treated by the Resort’s First Responders at the scene and in the First Aid centre; the Emergency Services were not required. I hope this puts your mind at ease Jordan; rest assured we believe our standards are the benchmark within the industry and health & safety remains at the heart of our business.
Click to expand...

And top comment there from Tom, need a thread for stuff like that. :)
Click to expand...

Good of them to finally acknowledge the whole thing, but with people claiming more severe injuries and hospital stays than that - there's many questions to be answered. I know many people in the world are just after money by exaggerating injuries however and wouldn't put it past some people to admit themselves to hospital afterwards.
 
Tom said:
Agreed about how things can be blown out of proportion, I can see it now:

THEME PARK HORROR ON MONORAIL RIDE

A family of six have spoken about their horror as a theme park monorail ride came to a violent halt after nearly DERAILING off the ede of the track.

18-year-old mother-of-five Mercedes Astra-Golf was travelling with children aboard the white knuckle attraction at Alton Towers, Staffs on Sunday.

She said: "The whole train stopped suddenly, catapulting everyone out of their seats and into the walls of the cabin.

"It was like a scene from a school shooting, there was blood everywhere.

"I had to spark up a fag I was that shook up afterwards. We certainly won't be coming back here again."

An onlooker described the train as approaching the edge of the track as like a scene from the Spider-Man film starring Tobey Maguire.

"We were all screaming and waving our arms around, trying to attract the driver's attention, but he appeared to be texting from his iPhone.

"Luckily he had sent his message just in time and as he looked up he managed to stop the train just a few inches from the edge."

The monorail was opened by Captain Kirk in the 1980s and the trains are painted in the style of farmyard creatures and sweets.
Click to expand...

You missed out:

Alton Towers describe the ride as 'The ultimate single-tracked high speed thrill experience'
 
I was in the park on Tuesday, and I didn't manage to get any photos. However, the track that connects with the switch track frame appeared to have come away from it's support on the frame. the track section appeared to be intact, although it was rotated to the left a bit.

The team that was working on it seemed to have sorted it by the end of the day, and they had moved the one train, that was clearly visible from the toilet walkway earlier in the day. I guess into the maintenance\ garage area.

After seeing this I have been mulling over what could of happened to cause this, but there are unanswered questions. That make it hard to pin down what happened.

1) did I see the train on Tuesday in it original position, if so then its hard stop would of been the wheel set catching on the new camber of the track.

2)If the train had been moved back to allow repair. Then it could of been the front wheel set that caused the track to disconnect from the supporting point, but how this could of happened is another debate.

So now. I am stuck with the old chicken and the egg thing :D
 
Not quite the tabloid epic above, but This is Staffordshire have picked up on the story:

AN investigation is continuing after several passengers were injured when a theme park monorail came to a sudden halt.

The railway system at Alton Towers stopped without warning and is currently not being used.

Several guests, who were travelling from the park to the car park, were injured during the incident and at least one required stitches.

The monorail, which first opened in 1987, was shut down immediately and will remain closed while further investigations are carried out.

An Alton Towers spokesman said: "A train from the monorail transportation system at Alton Towers Resort stopped suddenly on Sunday afternoon while it was on its way back from the theme park to the car parks.

"Several people sustained cuts and bruises and were treated by the resort's First Responders at the scene and in the first aid centre. The Emergency Services were not required.

"The system is now closed and a full investigation is underway to determine the cause of the stop."
Click to expand...

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Resort-investigates-visitors-hurt/story-16679937-detail/story.html

I'm not convinced by 'a sudden stop', but seems like this is the line they're taking to try and keep it from blowing up in the press.
 
Is the Monorail classed as a thrill ride now?

Anyway, there were men working on the track yesterday around the Sub Terra-Maintenance Bay area, and they appeared to be searching for faults in the track.
They were there for a good few hours at least!
 
delta79 said:
I was in the park on Tuesday, and I didn't manage to get any photos. However, the track that connects with the switch track frame appeared to have come away from it's support on the frame. the track section appeared to be intact, although it was rotated to the left a bit.

The team that was working on it seemed to have sorted it by the end of the day, and they had moved the one train, that was clearly visible from the toilet walkway earlier in the day. I guess into the maintenance\ garage area.

After seeing this I have been mulling over what could of happened to cause this, but there are unanswered questions. That make it hard to pin down what happened.

1) did I see the train on Tuesday in it original position, if so then its hard stop would of been the wheel set catching on the new camber of the track.

2)If the train had been moved back to allow repair. Then it could of been the front wheel set that caused the track to disconnect from the supporting point, but how this could of happened is another debate.

So now. I am stuck with the old chicken and the egg thing :D
Click to expand...

My money would certainly be on #1. It's likely that following the impact, it was left where it was pending the arrival of HSE inspectors.

Can quite visualise what you're describing though, would you consider doing a sketch and uploading? ;)
 
Tom you have not seen my drawing skills have you :D when i am at a computer, i will have a go. if i can find a good enough birds eye view, i will overlay onto that.
 
<puts cat among pigeons>

Having read through this topic, I'm not sure that the HSE will have been involved in this incident either. From what I know of RIDDOR, technically this would seem to be a 'near miss' and so doesn't necessarily need to be reported to HSE, and even if the park did decide to report it, the HSE would more than likely choose not to investigate it.

RIDDOR dictates that the park would only need to report this if a customer had been injured to such an extent that they would need to be taken directly from the park to hospital. The park's statement seems to suggest that only minor cuts and bruises were involved, that all injuries were dealt with on site and most importantly no emergency services were involved. The prominence of these last two points would suggest to me that they will have managed to entirely justifiably swerve this one out of the HSE's interest.

</cat pigeons>
 
Squiggs said:
<puts cat among pigeons>

Having read through this topic, I'm not sure that the HSE will have been involved in this incident either. From what I know of RIDDOR, technically this would seem to be a 'near miss' and so doesn't necessarily need to be reported to HSE, and even if the park did decide to report it, the HSE would more than likely choose not to investigate it.

RIDDOR dictates that the park would only need to report this if a customer had been injured to such an extent that they would need to be taken directly from the park to hospital. The park's statement seems to suggest that only minor cuts and bruises were involved, that all injuries were dealt with on site and most importantly no emergency services were involved. The prominence of these last two points would suggest to me that they will have managed to entirely justifiably swerve this one out of the HSE's interest.

</cat pigeons>
Click to expand...

You could be right and your understanding of RIDDOR is basically sound - there is just confusion as people have claimed to have been in hospital. They may complain to the HSE if the incident was not reported.

I think it's a grey area due to the type of the incident as reporting requirement definitions say collisions between two vehicles etc. If it isn't strictly reportable I think it is very close to the mark, and it certainly comes across as though they aren't reporting it because they don't have to.

In my mind it still sounds possible that they have failed to protect the safety of their guests.
 
I thought it would of been the Railway Inspectorate not HSE, as railway safety was taken from them in 2006 and handed to the Office of Rail Regulation. Although notification is in line with RIDDOR

So you may get one of Her Majesty's Railway Inspectors from Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). As i believe monorail have to run under a light railway order, (i know i will be corrected if i am wrong :) )

Does anyone know where I can get a decent photo (aerial if possible) of the switching track section.
 
Are they actually loading guests on it? Last I heard today was supposed to be a test day, to ensure everything else is still working properly. Apparently it's due to fully reopen over the next couple of days though :D

At least they've managed to solve the problems quickly! No word on the condition of the Daisy train yet though :(
 
Tom said:
Can quite visualise what you're describing though, would you consider doing a sketch and uploading? ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks to BigDave supplying a photo, I am able to explain with visual aid. :D

Hopefully below there is a photo :) highlighted area 1 is the switching track area. highlighted area 2 is approximately where the train was at rest. The red line denotes a track support.

The track between the highlighted track support and the switching area, was on a angle to the left. Not a big angle, maybe 10 to 15 degrees. due to the track disconnecting with the track support on the switching track.

This caused a lean on the first two carriages within the train on that track section, that where between the highlighted track support and switching area.

monorailSAexplain.jpg


I hope this make it a bit clearer for you Tom.
 
The train had been moved on Wednesday, but the track was being worked on in the place mentioned above.

It was hard to tell what they were doing to the track exactly, but it seemed as if the were removing a piece.
As I said though, it was hard to see so don't take me for my word.

They definately were making adjustments to the track though.
 
My observation was on Tuesday 7 aug. The track was being worked on at the time. when I passed back though the area at 1830 the train in question had been moved. My best guess is this was done to allow better access to that track section for full repair on the Wednesday.

This would tie in with the observation Longy made.
 
It's looks like they are testing so hopefully it will be open soon
 
josht said:
It's looks like they are testing so hopefully it will be open soon
Click to expand...

None of the Monorail trains were moving yesterday whatsoever, so even if they are simply testing it, any sign of movement should be progression. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top