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Monorail Refurbishment

Filling the bays without airgates was never a problem until a few years ago. Maybe common sense has prevailed again and they will let people wait in the bays!?
 
I thought I'd missed something in terms of air gate installation for a while.

My money is firmly on "no gates, numbers installed for social distance purposes, loading times longer than 2019".
 
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John said:
I thought I'd missing something in terms of air gate installation for a while.

My money is firmly on "no gates, numbers installed for social distance purposes, loading times longer than 2019".
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Every bay has a number though, surely if it was for social distancing they would put one on every other bay, not all of them. Plus with social distancing hopefully ending on a few months, why would they install permanent signage for it?

We'll find out exactly what they've done when it opens to guests though. :)
 
Absolutely, they might also have installed dividers inside the trains so they can have 1 group per bay straight away.
 
Skyscraper said:
Every bay has a number though, surely if it was for social distancing they would put one on every other bay, not all of them. Plus with social distancing hopefully ending on a few months, why would they install permanent signage for it?
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Those signs for each bay aren't cheap, and as you say they're permanent signs - so you may as well fork out to do the whole thing properly. That way even if the restrictions change from their previous every other bay rule, then they'll be set to load every bay as time goes on.

And let's not talk about some people being a bit dumb and going to a non numbered bay despite being told to stand under a sign ;)
 
Skyscraper said:
Good point, but they'd rope-off the bays that aren't in use. ;):p
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Fair enough, but the point still stands about them numbering every bay for future restrictions lifting, not because of air gates going in. If you think the park seriously has the money for two sets of air gates and associated extensive reprogramming in a year where they've had to rent some fair rides, I think you may be slightly disappointed come the 12th April!
 
Yeah I was gonna say, just because they have numbered signed made be meek signs, in no way means air gates have been installed. It will be nice if there has been.

But stating air gates must be getting installed is a pretty large conclusion to jump too based on what is almost no evidence what so ever.
 
The park did previously say that they were hoping to refurbish the Monorail for the 40th anniversary, so maybe this is that refurbishment materialising? And the numbers and such are there to accommodate air gates on the platform, which would represent part of this.
 
If they have installed air gates, I'd expect them to be operated manually by a host via a button on the entry side of the platform. They could use a system that automatically opens and closes the gates in time with the train doors, but that would be more work and more expensive.
 
Skyscraper said:
If they have installed air gates, I'd expect them to be operated manually by a host via a button on the entry side of the platform.
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A basic airgate system that uses linear actuators could be build in house by the engineering team.


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But like someone pointed out. They have had to rent some flat rides they are so cash strapped.

There are no air gates. Neither is there any evidence to suggest there is either.
 
DistortAMG said:
But like someone pointed out. They have had to rent some flat rides they are so cash strapped.

There are no air gates. Neither is there any evidence to suggest there is either.
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There's also no evidence to suggest there isn't. ;)

As I've already said, we'll find out for sure when it opens. :)
 
Surely a linkage cable attached to some gates and a lever at the end of the platform operated manually would suffice and be a far cheaper option?

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Let's break this all down for a second:

Why there won't be air gates
  • They cost a fortune. They've already had to hire in rides this year instead of purchase them, indicating budgets are already tight. Why would there be budget for air gates when the current system (albeit slow) works and there are far more pressing improvements to be made?
  • They would have to be tied into the operation of the ride. Towers would simply not allow the loading of bays while a train is in operation with only a manual button operating the gates. That's a single point of failure, which with stricter H&S these days simply wouldn't be permitted at the park. The current system has the manual gates as well as sufficient distance to give a clear view of the platform to notice issues.
  • Whilst the park's engineering teams do a great job at maintaining the technology they have with the rides etc, they would not be permitted to manufacture a safety critical system from scratch. Again, this also goes back to air gates needing to be not just a mechanical feature but also be electronically linked to the monorail's operation.
  • Considering the age of the monorail, there is considerably more work that needs to be done to it than just adding air gates. Is such a substantial investment worth it when the park really need to start considering either a full replacement or alternative methods of getting to the park in the medium term?
  • Towers leaks like a sieve, especially when main season staff return (see the flat rides being all over the place for weeks). If something major had changed, it'd be out there by now.
Reasons why there could be air gates
  • Because an assumption was made from some numbers going on the ceiling
I'm all for speculation now and again, but let's try and remain a little realistic! Maybe next year we may see something, but as mentioned, with the advancing age of the monorail I'm starting to think is it even worth bothering anymore?
 
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