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rollercoaster crash at alton towers

297 replies

SoljaBonita · 02/06/2015 15:21

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32980354?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_breaking&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=icf

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 05/06/2015 19:53

I'm not suprised they've shut other rides at other parks now.

It sounds like there is some form of electronic safety system where a second carriage can't be released until the first one has passed a certain point.

Reading that the first carriage here went forwards, didn't get round the loop and them went backwards it makes you wonder if there is no way for the system to recognise that the carriage re-entered the section going backwards. So it's all systems go as far as the electronic system is concerned.

If other rides have the same safety device then they all need to be closed until this is rectified.

stolenview · 05/06/2015 19:54

Not really, it was a human procedure error. They are retraining staff to not ever let it happen again.

Nightboattocairo · 05/06/2015 19:59

I hope it never re-opens. Shut the whole thing down now. I'll never visit again, I guess I'm not alone in that.

AyeAmarok · 05/06/2015 20:02

Stolen I wish you wouldn't post things like they are fact. The cause hasn't been released yet.

It's not "good PR" Hmm I doubt the fact they've stayed closed a couple of days extra is going to make anyone feel more favourably towards AT, they're probably insured for the loss of revenue anyway.

CoogerAndDark · 05/06/2015 20:06

You'd kind of hope they would sort out those finer details before any ride is launched, stolen.
But if you have faith that it was one person's oversight then that's fine.

Polarbearpolarbear · 05/06/2015 20:09

Vivienne- I find that hard to believe, where you wait for the trains you are in a building and unable to see the track.

meditrina · 05/06/2015 20:10

OK: based in roller-coaster loving DS and what's been on the news today:

Most roller coasters have only one car at a time. Some longer ones have one car per section. Smiler was one of them. There should be no way at all that a car should be able to enter a section where there was another car. Even if investigators have some idea how come two were on the same section, nothing has been made public yet.

Of the other closed rides, Saw is a similar ride to Smiler and was made by the same German firm. Dragonsfury and Rattlesnake aren't that similar, but are in sections.

HSE have put a prohibition notice on Smiler, so that simply cannot open. But there's no reason why other parts of AT could not reopen, other than the management thinks it wrong. Being closed in sunny June in the post exam period and including weekends is a very expensive decision for them. But I think it's the right thing to do, certainly until all on-site investigations are completed (they're removing sections for specialist examination).

Not sure what's happening at their other sites. They appear to be saying that no failings or problems have been identified with them, but they are performing extra checks in everything.

Anyone know if non-Merlin sites are having similar reviews?

stolenview · 05/06/2015 20:12

Well that's what its leading towards. If it had of been a computer failure they would of said by now. Obviously a few things happened, but the real issue is why the train was let go onto track that wasn't clear.

Kay burley had a fab interview with the at boss.

AyeAmarok · 05/06/2015 20:18

Well I certainly won't be watching or praising anything Kay Burley has done. She's a disrespectful, inappropriate and an extreme example of everything that is wrong with both Sky and journalism.

And even if what you're saying (about human error) is correct, AT are still to blame because they shouldn't put their young staff in a position where a slip up can have such catastrophic consequences.

AuntieStella · 05/06/2015 20:19

Kay Burley was appallingly incompetent (I take it you mean fabulously bad).

Banging on with repeated questions about amputations was just crass.

The BBC interview with him was much more illuminating.

stolenview · 05/06/2015 20:20

It wouldn't be the young staff at fault. It would be the senior ones with override permission.

stolenview · 05/06/2015 20:21

twitter.com/SkyNews/status/606822303112962048

Full interview here. She destroyed him. Good on her

Nicknacky · 05/06/2015 20:23

Vivienne I have read that news article and to be honest, no matter how young, untrained or whatever an employee may be, I would be surprised if they said "mind your own business".

My daughter had a minor accident last year coming off a ride and had an injury on her temple. I was so impressed with how they dealt with it. A gate had swung back on leaving the ride and hit her, they had it examined within minutes, a paramedic driving us to the medical centre and they even refunded our coffee and cake that we were having while she was on the ride.

They took an accident really seriously and that was for a kid banging her head.

AuntieStella · 05/06/2015 20:24

She didn't 'destroy' him. She barely let him get a word in edgeways and claimed to misunderstand some perfectly clear statements.

And kept asking him to confirm whether there had been any amputations. Dreadful.

Much more info in the nature and purpose of the additional checks/training from the Beeb, who let him complete some sentences.

Nicknacky · 05/06/2015 20:24

Why is it good that she "destroyed" him? We don't know that AT are at fault yet.

HermioneWeasley · 05/06/2015 20:30

So far I've been impressed by Merlin's handling. Compare and contrast with the Thomas Cook shambles

Justusemyname · 05/06/2015 20:34

That bloody woman on itv news today would ask a question and not let the man answer fully. She's often rude.

stolenview · 05/06/2015 20:42

Its pretty much inconceivable that at don't share at least some of the blame. Something went wrong and its looking like sloppy procedures at at.

Nicknacky · 05/06/2015 20:43

I have just watched the interview. I'm embarrassed for her, she was aggressive, arrogant, confrontational and continually thought she was being smart by repeating the same questions. That's not skilful interviewing!

Viviennemary · 05/06/2015 20:43

This man was interviewed on the news last night. I heard him so whether his account is accurate or not I can't say. But what he said was that he had pointed out to a member of staff there was an empty train on the track and was told that it was nothing to do with him and more or less to mind his own business.

Redglitter · 05/06/2015 21:04

Is it just me or does that girls family going on about compensation already while she's still seriously ill seem in very poor taste.

I can't imagine I'd even be thinking of that at this stage

Justusemyname · 05/06/2015 21:05

The boss has already said they won't be quibbling about compensation.

VivaLeBeaver · 05/06/2015 21:06

glitter, they've probably said no such thing. The papers will just be making total bollocks up in absence of actually having anything to report.

Madbengalmum · 05/06/2015 21:08

Hermione, my thoughts exactly,they do come across that they genuinely do care about their customers and safety.

AyeAmarok · 05/06/2015 21:16

The boss has already said they won't be quibbling about compensation.

Well they would say that because it won't be Alton Towers paying it

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