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Ride Availability/Operations 2022-26

Matt N said:
I have spent the last two days at Alton Towers and resultantly, I have some throughput timings to share for anyone who’s interested! The timings I managed to gather were as follows:
  • Galactica (Theoretical: 1,500pph on 3 trains/2 stations) - 611pph (2 trains/1 station, average of 8, 27th March 2026)
  • Nemesis Reborn (Theoretical: 1,400pph on 2 trains) - 1,183pph (2 trains, average of 10, 27th March 2026), 1,227pph (2 trains, average of 3, 28th March 2026), 1,161pph (2 trains, average of 10, 28th March 2026) Note: The 27th March reading was brought downwards by 1 anomalously slow dispatch, with the average interval being around the 90s mark prior to this.
  • Rita (Theoretical: 1,150pph on 2 trains) - 636pph (2 trains, average of 10, 27th March 2026), 715pph (2 trains, average of 10, 28th March 2026)
  • Spinball Whizzer (Theoretical: 950pph on 8 cars) - 513pph (5 or 6 cars, average of 10, 27th March 2026) Note: This number assumes 4 riders to a car, and the ride was running with 3 riders to a car on my ride, so the actual number would be more like 385pph. It is also worth me noting that this figure was brought down by 1 or 2 particularly slow dispatches, with the average interval sitting at a pretty consistent 23s otherwise.
  • The Smiler (Theoretical: 1,000pph on 5 trains) - 790pph (4 trains, baggage hold closed, average of 10, 27th March 2026)
  • Thirteen (Theoretical: 1,100pph on 3 trains) - 1,025pph (3 trains, baggage hold closed, average of 3, 27th March 2025), 901pph (3 trains, baggage hold closed, average of 10, 27th March 2025), 1,022pph (3 trains, baggage hold open, average of 5, 28th March 2026) Note: The 28th March reading was brought downwards by 1 anomalously slow reading caused by guest faff at the end of the timing period, with the prior readings producing an average dispatch interval of 57s.
  • Wicker Man (Theoretical: 952pph on 3 trains) - 854pph (2 trains, average of 8, 27th March 2025), 901pph (unknown number of trains, average of 8, 28th March 2025)
If I were to offer a few general insights, I would say the following:
  • Operations were overall pretty good, but perhaps a little inconsistent, in my view. There were a couple of areas of weakness.
  • Nemesis Reborn was a consistent area of strength. On the Friday night in particular, they were slamming trains out at a relatively consistent interval of 90s or so, with little to no stacking; the average above was brought downwards by 1 anomalously slow dispatch. Saturday was a little less consistent, maybe averaging around the 100s mark, but even still, the operation was relatively smooth with minimal stacking. The staff were flying on here!
  • Thirteen was another area of strength when the baggage hold was open on Saturday, perhaps proving the impact a baggage hold can have for throughput, in my opinion. My average above caught one particularly anomalous dispatch with some guest faff in the mix, but they were averaging under a minute prior to this and were whacking the trains out at a rate of knots! Other than the one anomaly, 65s was the slowest dispatch while I was in the station earlier today; the operation was very, very slick! Stacking was minimal, and when I was on the ride, our train came out of the crypt to the sight of the train behind going up the lift hill to enter it! Friday was definitely slower on Thirteen when it was closed, with my snapshots showing a throughput more around the 900-1,000pph mark and an audibly slower average dispatch interval of more like 70-80s.
  • Wicker Man was a weird one. On Friday, it was running 2 trains, but was going fast enough that I thought it could have been running a slightly sluggish 3 train service; the staff were flying on there! On Saturday, the ride was running faster again, hitting around 900pph. I think 3 trains was possible based on the speed, but it seemed to run in a clockwork alternating manner of one very quick 80s dispatch interval followed by one slower dispatch interval of 2 minutes or so, which makes me think that it could have been a very fast 2 train service again today. The staff were doing incredibly well on here on Friday, but I think 3 trains would not have gone amiss given the crowd levels.
  • Galactica was a massive stinker compared to the other rides. The staff were trying their hardest, but my goodness, that queue moves slowly when the ride only runs 2 trains and 1 station. 600pph really isn’t ideal when the park is that busy.
  • I do think baggage holds on Smiler and Thirteen may have come in useful on Friday. Thirteen’s was open on Saturday, but I think the throughput boost from them being open could have been of use on Friday too. My readings from Thirteen would show that those holds really do speed things along, in my view!
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Interesting data Matt! I asked AI to combine it with the queue time data from those days to calculate which coasters were the most popular in the park:

  1. Wicker Man
  2. Nemesis Reborn
  3. The Smiler
  4. Thirteen
  5. Galactica
  6. Rita
  7. Spinball Whizzer
I suspect that's about the order most of us would have guessed generally.
 
I just can’t help but feel a couple of queue eating monsters. A POTC/Poseidon sized boat ride, an Omnimover or ETF style dark ride is really needed to prop up the parks overall capacity.

And in the first example have a ride system at least with far less maintenance asks, which could be easier used all year.
 
Ash said:
I just can’t help but feel a couple of queue eating monsters. A POTC/Poseidon sized boat ride, an Omnimover or ETF style dark ride is really needed to prop up the parks overall capacity.

And in the first example have a ride system at least with far less maintenance asks, which could be easier used all year.
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Depends how many animatronics they'd have.

Imagine this place pointing out all the broken ones on a daily basis!
 
Benzin said:
Depends how many animatronics they'd have.

Imagine this place pointing out all the broken ones on a daily basis!
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Agreed and that’s the trade off, you need the technological and artistic quality in terms of sets, figures, screens, scenery, audio to still create an entertaining attraction but a basic flume attraction with 20 seater boats can have its effects maintained all year with the mechanical aspects (station, drops, pumps) for a shorter annual refurb or may even be able to accomplished throughout the year.

As we’ve seen similar at Drayton recently as the UK park season changes these capacity/operational issues need to be solved. (Weather, maintenance, capacity) and I’m seeing zero answers yet
 
Poisson said:
I wonder if we'll see Towers go for limited openings until Easter in the future. Call them Adrenaline Weekends (which I think used to be end of season) big rides only, capacity cap crushed down, no FT etc.
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It would make sense.. I liked my after dark weekend last year (the second weekend) and from what I recall only the cable car was down. But it seems they have an issue with ramping up for the open season.

Would the adding of lights etc be taking resources away from the teams?

In theory the after dark days are a good way to kick start interest and I enjoy them, but something has to give. My preference is they deliberately culled certain areas for them so they can focus on getting things open and staffed.

I'd deliberately close WODW, pinball (it never likes poor weather), skyway (this will cause debate but it can only function in the light and low winds) & water rides. Kids are not the target of After Dark and other events through the closed season are the target audience anyway. (Plus they have cbeebies). In addition and push came to shove you could close x-sector or forbidden forest if choose the one that needs the least amount of additional lighting to stay open.
 
Despite the operational issues and reputational damage that comes with the negative press and YouTube videos, I reckon they will have made an absolute killing from Alton After Dark, and will be desperate to keep them.
 
Well that's the thing, market it as a limited line up and only open the weekend days. Water rides, Walliams, Beebies, Mutiny Bay even all closed and just have the coasters plus Toxicator, with maybe RMT, Hex and Curse thrown in to add some indoor stuff to do and some capacity.

They'd never limit capacity and would make a mess with horrific queues though. Cannot be trusted to do things right.
 
Ash said:
I just can’t help but feel a couple of queue eating monsters. A POTC/Poseidon sized boat ride, an Omnimover or ETF style dark ride is really needed to prop up the parks overall capacity.

And in the first example have a ride system at least with far less maintenance asks, which could be easier used all year.
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They do already have a big people eating boat ride just sat there, get that back open would be a start, although it is probably a maintenance pain due to its age.
Poisson said:
I wonder if we'll see Towers go for limited openings until Easter in the future. Call them Adrenaline Weekends (which I think used to be end of season) big rides only, capacity cap crushed down, no FT etc.
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This would potentially be a good shout, scrap the buyout days and do this instead. Means they have longer to get other rides ready, leaving them to focus on the thrill rides first. Perhaps have them operate like buy-out days, in that they are not on the annual pass, or rather annual passholders get a discount but do have to pay. Take away Fastrack, and market it to a completely different market of those who want to do just the big rides over and over. Could perhaps have an minimum as well, maybe 16 or something.
Mick said:
Despite the operational issues and reputational damage that comes with the negative press and YouTube videos, I reckon they will have made an absolute killing from Alton After Dark, and will be desperate to keep them.
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If they replaced the buyout days instead they could still make a killing on Alton After dark, although they could perhaps push it back a weekend or two. We've seen how much difference even a week can make maintenance wise.
They could have some closed days, in quieter parts of the season, and use these for the previous buyout days.
Poisson said:
Well that's the thing, market it as a limited line up and only open the weekend days. Water rides, Walliams, Beebies, Mutiny Bay even all closed and just have the coasters plus Toxicator, with maybe RMT, Hex and Curse thrown in to add some indoor stuff to do and some capacity.
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In terms of rides I would have all the major coasters (possibly RMT, although I don't think it would be a massive loss if they wanted to keep it shut), Toxicator obviously, possibly Sub Terra (your opening forbidden valley anyway might as well have it all open), Hex and ideally any future flat rides they install (even if they're only technically family thrill). Curse is an interesting one, if they can get it open I suppose it would make sense, especially because it has big capacity so would help out, as they for sure wouldn't limit capacity as much as they should.
There are other things you could offer too that aren't rides, whether thats entertainment of some form (have a band on or something plenty of options) or something else.
I never attended an adrenaline weekend but would loved to, they seem like just the sort of event I would be happy to actually pay extra for, even if your getting less technically, as you would get on way more of the big coasters, plenty of rerides etc.
 
Dave said:
I’m fairly sure they have the staff budget for two stations, the issue is the 3rd train not being ready.
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There were days last year when it was using both stations with just 2 trains (as it gives higher throughput) but I've only seen it on single station operation so far this year. I'm not entirely convinced that they'd have been running 3 trains even if they could.
 
rob666 said:
It used to be Adrenaline Week.
The weekdays, not weekends.
The gap between Halloween events and fireworks.
Just the big coasters open, no filler rides, few F&B units open.
Popular with coaster freaks, but short queues generally.
And very much before the mass season pass era.
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I like that. It's actually a negative (fewer overall rides open that normal), but marketed as a positive.
 
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