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Ride Availability/Operations 2022-25

AstroDan said:
It won't be the last either.

I know no details but it's widely known across the group. Big changes are coming. It's totally depressing.

Merlin needs to be 'fit for the future'...
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That's slightly ominous... although the one thing I would ask is; how do we know that such a move would be entirely bad? They may have some ideas to help improve things or be more efficient in delivering services.

I admit the previous track record is not too promising, but is it not a possibility?
 
It’s very rare that all the major coasters are operating simultaneously.

Just what is going on that seemingly each ride suffers downtime on a daily basis? It can’t be age as the likes of Nemesis and Wickerman are relatively new (or brand new in one case).

This seems to be a problem unique to AT.
 
Bowser said:
It’s very rare that all the major coasters are operating simultaneously.

Just what is going on that seemingly each ride suffers downtime on a daily basis? It can’t be age as the likes of Nemesis and Wickerman are relatively new (or brand new in one case).

This seems to be a problem unique to AT.
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Given their location, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re having trouble recruiting tech services staff compared to the London-based Merlin parks. Alton is very rural, and also has JCB located nearby that plays into a very similar engineering-based skill set in terms of the jobs that it offers.

JCB is less rural and does not require its employees to work outside for large swathes of the day, and that’s before you take into account wages (I don’t know if JCB pays more than Alton, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they do). With that in mind, most people with an engineering skill set in that area will likely want to work at JCB rather than Alton, which causes problems for Alton in hiring tech services staff.

With that being said, some of the other Merlin parks are not exactly free of ride availability issues either.
 
Matt N said:
Given their location, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re having trouble recruiting tech services staff compared to the London-based Merlin parks. Alton is very rural, and also has JCB located nearby that plays into a very similar engineering-based skill set in terms of the jobs that it offers.

JCB is less rural and does not require its employees to work outside for large swathes of the day, and that’s before you take into account wages (I don’t know if JCB pays more than Alton, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they do). With that in mind, most people with an engineering skill set in that area will likely want to work at JCB rather than Alton, which causes problems for Alton in hiring tech services staff.
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Sure but besides the staff issues, what’s actually going on? There are evidently people working there able to get them going each day so why are they repeatedly breaking down so much? Are they only essentially putting plasters on issues which require more qualified engineers to resolve?
 
Matt N said:
Given their location, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re having trouble recruiting tech services staff compared to the London-based Merlin parks. Alton is very rural, and also has JCB located nearby that plays into a very similar engineering-based skill set in terms of the jobs that it offers.

JCB is less rural and does not require its employees to work outside for large swathes of the day, and that’s before you take into account wages (I don’t know if JCB pays more than Alton, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they do). With that in mind, most people with an engineering skill set in that area will likely want to work at JCB rather than Alton, which causes problems for Alton in hiring tech services staff.

With that being said, some of the other Merlin parks are not exactly free of ride availability issues either.
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The company I work for has a service team that could easily work on the systems Alton has. It seems Alton has the problem of not separating electrical and control systems rolls. Giving an electrician a laptop and asking them “fix the problem” is often a big ask. And asking a controls engineer, who has trained behind a keyboard, there’s a screw driver fix it will just lead to problems.

Rides now are a mix of electrical, mechanical, pneumatics and control systems. They are all very different skillsets. The hex problems for example are clearly mechanical, however they may interact with proxy sensors (used for parking)

The items that surprise me is if or how much modifications Alton are making to the software themselves, I’d assume they’d need a specialist (there seem few within the UK) such as Fairfield Controls or Consign AG overseas.

These systems are mostly safety systems, (TUV Sud) and require a far higher level of competency and training, often overlapping with pharmaceuticals, nuclear sectors, than your average control system. These are often white collar staff who command top wages, and as others have said the idea of fault finding a panel in the Staffordshire moorlands, outdoors for large parts of the year. Probably doesn’t appeal.

Furthermore the place has chequered past with the tech teams if you care to look, although that was a decent amount of time ago.

For what it’s worth, I’m not 100% sure how much automation there is at JCBs facilities in uttoxeter but I can’t say I see them hiring for similar roles that often (as I’m involved in recruitment for similar roles locally)

There is a wide range of similar companies in the north staffs/derbyshire area. Capula, BGEN, Adsyst, Orbital, Core Control, P Ducker Systems and Moorland Fletcher. All recruiting from the same pool.
 
Bowser said:
Sure but besides the staff issues, what’s actually going on? There are evidently people working there able to get them going each day so why are they repeatedly breaking down so much? Are they only essentially putting plasters on issues which require more qualified engineers to resolve?
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When people puke on rides, they shut the ride to clean up any H&S issues.
Now puters, smart phones, ridetimes and dumb people combine...we now know every time it happens.
Plus camera issues, idiots and rulebreakers regarding safe areas.
Before, we never knew.
Now we do, and share that info for fun.
If a thoosie pukes in the forest...does it really happen if nobody posts about it...
 
rob666 said:
When people puke on rides, they shut the ride to clean up any H&S issues.
Now puters, smart phones, ridetimes and dumb people combine...we now know every time it happens.
Plus camera issues, idiots and rulebreakers regarding safe areas.
Before, we never knew.
Now we do, and share that info for fun.
If a thoosie pukes in the forest...does it really happen if nobody posts about it...
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Yes but those issues are universal whereas the daily downtime seems disproportionately heavier at AT.
 
Matt N said:
Given their location, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re having trouble recruiting tech services staff compared to the London-based Merlin parks. Alton is very rural, and also has JCB located nearby that plays into a very similar engineering-based skill set in terms of the jobs that it offers.

JCB is less rural and does not require its employees to work outside for large swathes of the day, and that’s before you take into account wages (I don’t know if JCB pays more than Alton, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they do). With that in mind, most people with an engineering skill set in that area will likely want to work at JCB rather than Alton, which causes problems for Alton in hiring tech services staff.

With that being said, some of the other Merlin parks are not exactly free of ride availability issues either.
Click to expand...

JCB expect a lot, but pay well from working with some of their ex-staff
 
Matt N said:
That's slightly ominous... although the one thing I would ask is; how do we know that such a move would be entirely bad? They may have some ideas to help improve things or be more efficient in delivering services.

I admit the previous track record is not too promising, but is it not a possibility?
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Restructuring is also a massive distraction.

So even if the ultimate destination proves good (not saying it is!), the journey to get there can mean a lot of people are focused on internal changes rather than external issues.
 
venny said:
This season has been like one big, slow motion car crash.
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Think we’re being a bit dramatic there. Sure operations haven’t been the best but I’m fortunate to go a lot and haven’t seen that many issues so I’m either lucky or the app just makes it look worse than it is. End of the day you can only go on 1 ride at a time so some rides being shut on the other side of the park won’t matter
 
Ethan said:
Think we’re being a bit dramatic there. Sure operations haven’t been the best but I’m fortunate to go a lot and haven’t seen that many issues so I’m either lucky or the app just makes it look worse than it is. End of the day you can only go on 1 ride at a time so some rides being shut on the other side of the park won’t matter
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Operations haven't been the best?

- Opening hours cut throughout the season including Scarefest
- More staggered openings throughout the season, and on main rides during Scarefest
- Staffing cut meaning less capacity on multiple rides (Oblivion and Galactica)
- Cebeebies land closing at 5pm rather than 7pm during Octoberfest and Scarefest
- Events cut
- Downtime horrendous throughout the year
- No skyride all year and Hex for 1 month of the season
- Rapids closed for the season early

Theres plenty more, I don't think people are being dramatic.
 
Call_um said:
Operations haven't been the best?

- Opening hours cut throughout the season including Scarefest
- More staggered openings throughout the season, and on main rides during Scarefest
- Staffing cut meaning less capacity on multiple rides (Oblivion and Galactica)
- Cebeebies land closing at 5pm rather than 7pm during Octoberfest and Scarefest
- Events cut
- Downtime horrendous throughout the year
- No skyride all year and Hex for 1 month of the season
- Rapids closed for the season early

Theres plenty more, I don't think people are being dramatic.
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Especially when you wouldn't know any of this when you renewed your annual pass.

I think they're at the stage now where they simply have to prioritise getting rides open and operating at maximum capacity.
 
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