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The Future of Skyride
- Thread starter DistortAMG
- Start date
jon81uk
TS Member
The park haven't given a reason, but as work has been seen on the support pylons, it is assumed the issue with to do with them.
OK, after criticism for going on, Greatest Hits, and spamming up the wrong topics, time for continued discussion of ableism at the Towers, and their continuing "repairs" of the skyride, and their shockingly poor support for disabled guests.
Anyone seen any action in recent months regarding the repairs?
I have an active complaint regarding the ride, and the gross moneymaking scheme of charging people for alternatives to the closed transport system... thirty quid for a scooter rental anyone...but I await a reasoned response...I just get stuck record.
A good few months waiting for "meaningful feedback" on the issue, no response to my general request for waving the charge for all scooter users, under law, under the Equality Act, under the indirect discrimination clauses, just more waffle and stall.
Alton have had my twenty one pounds for this year, and won't get another penny until they return free access around the park.
Anyone seen any action in recent months regarding the repairs?
I have an active complaint regarding the ride, and the gross moneymaking scheme of charging people for alternatives to the closed transport system... thirty quid for a scooter rental anyone...but I await a reasoned response...I just get stuck record.
A good few months waiting for "meaningful feedback" on the issue, no response to my general request for waving the charge for all scooter users, under law, under the Equality Act, under the indirect discrimination clauses, just more waffle and stall.
Alton have had my twenty one pounds for this year, and won't get another penny until they return free access around the park.
Craig
TS Administrator
As with any ride, you're not gonna get a running commentary from the park regarding work taking place. With much of the ride going over public areas, you're unlikely to see work taking place during park operating hours too.
That said, the last change we noticed on park was a set of pulley wheels had been removed presumably for maintenance work to take place. That was back at the end of April:
From: https://x.com/TowersStreet/status/1783086017634853314?s=19
That said, the last change we noticed on park was a set of pulley wheels had been removed presumably for maintenance work to take place. That was back at the end of April:
From: https://x.com/TowersStreet/status/1783086017634853314?s=19
EarthlyKnight27
TS Member
Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if the repairs/retrofitting or whatever they're doing with Skyride is quite high up on Alton's priority list. Due to what you're doing as AT could be fined for breaching the Equality Act due to Skyride being down for so long and charging high costs for the mobility scooter alternative.
Interesting, I wonder how long it took them to remove the pully wheels from the pylons, cause if they only work on the ride when they are no guests within the park or area, it limits how long they can work on the pylons. So it could explain the extended downtime of Skyride as unlike off season, they have to plan around guests at the park as well as what to prioritize due to how much time they may or may not have,
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Ug Bugs
Mobility Scooters face a charge, you are allowed to bring your own. Wheelchairs are free, with a refundable deposit. Alton Towers have also offered @rob666 a free complimentary Mobility Scooter for use when he's there, but he hasn't taken them up on the offer and doesn't want to (which is his free choice). Alton Towers have provided alternative provision, there wouldn't be a case to answer to; especially as any court case would have to prove that Skyride was shut for economic reasons and not for essential repair work. Burden of proof is always on the prosecution, not the defence.
I have seen more work happening, but it has just been moving from one tower to the next, the past few times I have went the cable has been removed from a differnt tower (I am guessing they are fixing one at a time) and tbh it isn't too news worthy that the work has moved from dark forerst tower, to the next dark forest tower
PhalanaxOperativeA1127
TS Member
Yeah it's clearly not shut for economic reasons this year. We don't know what happened last year (that might well have been for all we know, and the lack of communication then was agreeably poor), but this year you can visbily see work going on with the ride and the pylons - so they're spending money on it, not saving money by closing it.
I do sympathise for those who rely on it though; we too missed it when we went. Trying to lug a pushchair and a toddler around the park is tricky. It's unfortunate, but there's clearly issues (mechanical, not money) preventing it running.
The evidence does point to the fact that it was planned to open; it's on the map, the stations were tarted up etc ... why spend money on a ride making it look nicer that you dont plan to open/use for another 12 months? It clearly threw up problems preparing it for the season which is disappointing, but I think anyone claiming it's closed for economic reasons is just ignoring the evidence in front of them.
I do sympathise for those who rely on it though; we too missed it when we went. Trying to lug a pushchair and a toddler around the park is tricky. It's unfortunate, but there's clearly issues (mechanical, not money) preventing it running.
The evidence does point to the fact that it was planned to open; it's on the map, the stations were tarted up etc ... why spend money on a ride making it look nicer that you dont plan to open/use for another 12 months? It clearly threw up problems preparing it for the season which is disappointing, but I think anyone claiming it's closed for economic reasons is just ignoring the evidence in front of them.
Craig
TS Administrator
Yup there’s definitely things happening, it’s just any sort of work that even remotely affects those cables isn’t going to happen while the public are on park.
Just on the subject of complaints and the legal side of things. The alternatives that are being offered for Skyride, or indeed member’s own suggestions for changes have already been discussed at great length. While it’s clear there’s a multitude of differing opinions on the matter and it’s extremely frustrating for some, I don’t think there’s much else that can be discussed about it without repeating the same things that have been said already. It’s now really something that’s down to Alton Towers and the guests affected to resolve through whatever action they wish to take. Unless there is news off the back of those complaints, or any update provided by the park themselves, I don’t think a back and forth on here about something so complex is really going to be all that constructive and will ultimately just end up in the same arguments which have already been had.
We already have an answer from the resort that the attraction will be closed for the remainder of the 2024, that’s been established since the start of the season. We can see there is clearly work taking place to the attraction - the exact reasons and scope of the work, and why it’s taking so long is unknown to the public and almost certainly will remain so. I think it’s best to leave this topic for updates on work taking place to the attraction across the season, rather than going over old ground again.
All the information in the above few posts is exactly what I was looking for, thanks all.
I haven't been back, and haven't heard any reports of any work, so thanks for the positive updates, without the "same old circles".
My enquiries were for the hope of a Towers pitstop on the old gits Thorpe trip in September...but without the skyride, I doubt it.
I haven't been back, and haven't heard any reports of any work, so thanks for the positive updates, without the "same old circles".
My enquiries were for the hope of a Towers pitstop on the old gits Thorpe trip in September...but without the skyride, I doubt it.
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Poisson
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- The Giant Squid
Walk in, do Wicker Man, have a pint at the Welcom-Inn, do Curse, Nemesis, out the Galactigate, Monorail back to the entrance to get back to priority parking? Perfect pitstop.
But with paid entry, for all three of us, when Thorpe is free, and the other two are tykes, that is just not value for money.
And last time, the plan fell apart with closed rides, still fun, but three closures cock up your plans without the lovely skyride.
Dark forest closures didn't matter so much in the past, but now with closed skyride...a long walk to find others.
And last time, the plan fell apart with closed rides, still fun, but three closures cock up your plans without the lovely skyride.
Dark forest closures didn't matter so much in the past, but now with closed skyride...a long walk to find others.
EarthlyKnight27
TS Member
I know, I'm just saying!
Heck, it's just going to be interesting if people with mobility issues need a wheelchair or mobility scooter and can't get one due to them being already rented out. Although, you raise good points, so I can't really complain. I'm just jumpy on that subject, as I have family who need mobility scooters and wheelchairs quite often now.
DistortAMG
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- POTC Disneyland Paris
Sort of Skyride related, I found these in a coffee bar at the Snowdome in Tamworth. These are the old pullys from a cable car tower.
I did not want to stand in the cafe to take the photo as wanted to respect people's privacy.
A cool centerpiece to a ski lift themed coffee shop. The seats are cable cars too.
These pully wheels are what appear to have been removed from Skyride.
I did not want to stand in the cafe to take the photo as wanted to respect people's privacy.
A cool centerpiece to a ski lift themed coffee shop. The seats are cable cars too.
These pully wheels are what appear to have been removed from Skyride.
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DiogoJ42
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- The Metropolitan Line
That would be my bet. Very hard to judge scale, but would have thought that looks a bit too small to be from Skyride?
Please go back and ask the staff. We need to know!
DistortAMG
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- POTC Disneyland Paris
Sorry I was not clear, these are the same mechanical components that are currently removed from the Skyride. But these are NOT the specific ones from the Skyride but the same type of components if that makes sense.
They are not from Drayton Manor either the design is completly different from their 1950's ones that were removed.
@DiogoJ42 these are less than 10 minutes from my house. I'll do some more digging and get back to you. I'll try see if anyone there knows where they are from, I'll see if I can actually get photos of the ski lift gondolas that are used as seating now. You can just about see them in that photo at the back.
They are not from Drayton Manor either the design is completly different from their 1950's ones that were removed.
@DiogoJ42 these are less than 10 minutes from my house. I'll do some more digging and get back to you. I'll try see if anyone there knows where they are from, I'll see if I can actually get photos of the ski lift gondolas that are used as seating now. You can just about see them in that photo at the back.
