Monorail Refurbishment

[dave___]

What’s it called?

I swear there’s nothing that’s electrified, bonified and has six cars?

Go away! There ain't no monorail and there never was

 

[adsyrah]

Coming to this thread after being at the park yesterday for the first time in 4 years.

The monorail is embarrassing. Dirty, slow and not fit for purpose.

It's such a shame as I remember going to the park for the first time in 1995 as a teenager and having that magic "wow" moment as the monorail went past nemesis. I remember it so vividly now.

That's what cemented Alton Towers as the magical place I hold dear. So many memories.

The initial (and last) experience a guest gets is what frames the day. I think they need this to future-proof the park, even if it costs them a bomb.

I think the decline in the park's polish was when the advertising on rides started (Cadbury's Heroes for air?!) and the decals on the monorail - you could no longer see the rides well through the windows to marvel at the park you're entering.

I'd advocate till I'm blue in the face for them to keep the monorail track / route and get new trains as there are so many new visitors who should have that "wow" moment I had in the 90s to fall in love with theme parks.

Edit: typos

 

[flyingguitar]

The initial (and last) experience a guest gets is what frames the day. I think they need this to future-proof the park, even if it costs them a bomb.

I don't know how much it would be to get new trains (would depend on who and how it was done, could be mack, could be bombardier)

but apart from fully removing all transport options I struggle to see an option that would be significantly lower:
Tram / land train / bus would require modifications to the entrance and roads (if I were Alton, I would make the current pedestrian path one direction (probably to the entrance) and extend the tarmac for the return route and some working out) in addition to buying the vehicles.
Any people mover would require track work and any vehicles, I struggle to think it would be cheaper in any way.
A sky way could be possible, but I am not sure how expensive it would be and it would require turns, (not too cheap) or going over the trees (good luck with planning permission)

I struggle to think of any more solutions.