DistortAMG
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- POTC Disneyland Paris
The windows were VERY scratched. To the point I'm not sure looking out of them will be a better experience, until they replace all the windows.
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ℹ️ Heads up...
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Monorail Refurbishment
- Thread starter WallisDan
- Start date
I’m still amazed Alton haven’t tried to get the monorail sponsored, or work with partners to put screens on the inside for ads, for internal and external partners (I.e Merlin (sea life, annual passes), Alton events, partner brands - cadburys, BBC etc)
Seems a missed opportunity to recoup some refurb costs
Seems a missed opportunity to recoup some refurb costs
tech
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Universe of Energy - Epcot (RIP)
Given Merlin’s recent track record I’d be careful what you wish for - next thing you know, Bianca will be posting an Instagram reel to tell us all that “we hear you” and announcing their New For 2025 “Open Top Monorail”
Monorail: Brought to you by Cross Country Trains.
Jb85
TS Member
Sat on one as we speak and I’d much rather be on the monorail!
I like the cut of your jib
tech
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Universe of Energy - Epcot (RIP)
I not sure they can cut the monorail in half during peak times.
cross country love sending one 4 car train rarther than the scheduled 8/9 car train
DiogoJ42
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- The Metropolitan Line
Nah, if they chop the roof off, they're not going to be putting it back on just for busy days.
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Archie
TS Member
just found out something quite interesting.
Von Roll the monorails manufacturer, actually sold off the technology to Adtranz/Bombardier which is now under control of Alstom. Alstom still make monorails albeit completely different to the Von Roll designs, but my point is an Alstom refurb might not be too far fetched. New traction motors, control systems, interiors could be possible since Alstom could still hold the rights to the design buried in some archive somewhere.
Von Roll the monorails manufacturer, actually sold off the technology to Adtranz/Bombardier which is now under control of Alstom. Alstom still make monorails albeit completely different to the Von Roll designs, but my point is an Alstom refurb might not be too far fetched. New traction motors, control systems, interiors could be possible since Alstom could still hold the rights to the design buried in some archive somewhere.
flyingguitar
TS Member
2 trains isn't that far from the current maximum capacity.
The problem is they aren't allowing people into the gates before the train stops, when I rode it I times about 5/6 mins between dispatching most of that was loading meaning the ride is spending a long time sat in the station, and any more trains than 2 they start to stack on the load station, 3 is probably the current max they could add any more then they won't get any more capacity for the added trains as they would just stack behind the load station.
They need to renovate it (I wouldn't be too surprised if they have plans) to clean up the trains, improve the experience but also add air gates so they can load the gates without the train in the station so it can achieve its previous capacity.
The problem is they aren't allowing people into the gates before the train stops, when I rode it I times about 5/6 mins between dispatching most of that was loading meaning the ride is spending a long time sat in the station, and any more trains than 2 they start to stack on the load station, 3 is probably the current max they could add any more then they won't get any more capacity for the added trains as they would just stack behind the load station.
They need to renovate it (I wouldn't be too surprised if they have plans) to clean up the trains, improve the experience but also add air gates so they can load the gates without the train in the station so it can achieve its previous capacity.
Benjsh
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
How much money roughly do we think needs to be invested into the Monorail to get it into a decent state again?
£5m? £10m? More?
Crazy how they've allowed the Monorail and Sky Ride get into such a sorry state all at the time that they knew Nemmy was going to need a lot of money spending on it.
Tbf they have spent the money on two of those so surely the monorail will be next.
£5m? £10m? More?
Crazy how they've allowed the Monorail and Sky Ride get into such a sorry state all at the time that they knew Nemmy was going to need a lot of money spending on it.
Tbf they have spent the money on two of those so surely the monorail will be next.
flyingguitar
TS Member
I think they probably will have plans to renovate it (they are spending a lot on tiding up the park, new signs every where, sky ride, etc making it look much more modern whilst improving how it fits in with the park, and the monorail is one of the things that isn't up to standard with the rest)
in terms of price it really depends what they do,
a station re-paint with some air gates added probably not too much (sub £1m)
a train refit (renovated train interiors, new paint on the trains) a station re-paint and air gates probably a bit more depending on the number of trains that get refit and the quality of the refit (do they add AC, etc) I would guess £1m-£3m
new trains for the system would cost a lot, but could extend its lifespan, probably looking at like £7m+