Should Alton Towers Re-Open The Smiler

[LukeB]

Fury of Alton Towers girl who lost leg in rollercoaster horror as boss tells her: 'We've lost a lot of money'
Millionaire Nick Varney, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, visited Vicky Balch
'They said they are not making as much money,' said a furious Vicky
Student was one of the four seriously injured young people on the ride
She had to have her right leg amputated following the horror crash in June

A student who lost her leg in the horrific Alton Towers Smiler crash said she was ‘insulted’ when the theme park’s boss told her they were losing ‘a lot of money’ – and that they would reopen the ride ‘as soon as possible’.
Millionaire Nick Varney, CEO of the park’s £4 billion parent company Merlin Entertainments, visited Vicky Balch, 20, at home this month.
‘They said they are not making as much money as they used to,’ said Vicky. ‘I feel upset and insulted.
‘This happened to me on their ride so why would they want to reopen it so quickly? It has changed my future – my independence has completely gone and I cry all the time.’
Vicky was one of the four seriously injured young people on the ride when their carriage slammed into an empty test vehicle at up to 50mph in June.
She had to have her right leg amputated. Fellow victim Leah Washington, 18, lost her left leg.
Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday, Vicky from Preston, Lancashire, revealed the moment she heard the news that the Smiler would be reopened if accident investigators lift a prohibition order.
Vicky added: ‘They weren’t asking our opinion, they were just informing us. I got upset. I knew they’d want to reopen it, but not so quickly. It’s disrespectful.’
Vicky’s mother Karen, 51, said: ‘I’d like to see them tear it down after what happened.
'For them to come and talk about lost profits when they’re looking at a 20-year-old girl who’s lost a leg and had her entire life changed forever is appalling.’
Vicky said Mr Varney and another senior executive told her their internal inquiry blamed ‘human error’ when two members of staff over-rode a safety mechanism preventing two carriages on the same section of track at once.
The Health and Safety Executive probe continues, and the company, which has seen more than £750 million wiped from its share value, has issued a £47 million profits warning.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3250358/Alton-Towers-boss-tells-Smiler-victim-ve-lost-lot-money.html#ixzz3mxvMzXrv
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[LukeB]

I think not yet... i do think it should be re-opened as long as it's safe and secure like other rides.

[Glenn.]

Considering the freak nature of the accident, yes, why shouldn't it reopen? The roller coaster is an investment for the park and its closure is losing money.

[LukeB]

I don't think people go to Alton Towers because of the smiler tbh. They are losing money because of this story people have been put off.

[Glenn.]

I don't think people go to Alton Towers because of the smiler tbh. They are losing money because of this story people have been put off.

People go to theme parks like that to ride the rides. The smiler is no exception considering the records it holds.

[Jordan.]

Yes cause I want to go on it

[Dollface]

I think they should get rid of it and put a better/more stable coaster in it's place

[Glenn.]

I think they should get rid of it and put a better/more stable coaster in it's place

I dont think that's an option

[Jordan.]

It was human error so the ride wasn't at fault

[LukeB]

People go to theme parks like that to ride the rides. The smiler is no exception considering the records it holds.

true but each theme park always has that one ride that is their biggest attraction like Pleasure Beach does with Pepsi max

[Glenn.]

true but each theme park always has that one ride that is their biggest attraction like Pleasure Beach does with Pepsi max

And the smiler is Alton Towers biggest attraction

[user104658]

From a safety / morals point of view, there's really no reason not to if the fault has been identified, it's no less safe than any other rollercoaster (and despite this incident, they really do have an excellent statistical safety record). I've voted "not yet" though as I think it's all too fresh.

"Should" they reopen it from a business standpoint? Probably not. Even though it's just as safe as any other ride, it won't generally be perceived that way, and I can't really foresee a time where people won't be wary of it and (perhaps) the entire park simply because it's there. It could potentially be a PR disaster. It would potentially be a better idea to scrap it and build something else in its' place... although if the financial hit they've taken is even half as big as reported... that might be a stretch.

On the other hand - does scrapping it send the message that they're not confident that it ever was / ever could be safe? Does it suggest that other rides aren't safe either? Is it better to stand up confidently and say "all of our rides are safe"? Hmmm.

Tough call really.

[LukeB]

The theme park was doing great before the smiler existed and now it's dead because of the story

[Dollface]

I love roller coasters, but don't think i'd risk going on The Smiler after seeing 2 girls lose a leg each

[Samuel.]

Should just replace it tbh, take the loss. Not because I think the ride is dangerous, but surely it's not good for business to still have it and remind visitors of the tragedy on their fun day out.

Some thrill seekers aside, going to a theme park and seeing a ride and thinking "oh yeah, that's the one where people lost legs..." isn't exactly appealing... regardless of how safe you think it is.

Seems like it'd be a bad smell that's better off gone.

[LukeB]

I love roller coasters, but don't think i'd risk going on The Smiler after seeing 2 girls lose a leg each

Same :love:

[Dollface]

Should just replace it tbh, take the loss. Not because I think the ride is dangerous, but surely it's not good for business to still have it and remind visitors of the tragedy on their fun day out.

Some thrill seekers aside, going to a theme park and seeing a ride and thinking "oh yeah, that's the one where people lost legs..." isn't exactly appealing... regardless of how safe you think it is.

Seems like it'd be a bad smell that's better off gone.

:clap1:

[Glenn.]

All they need to do is upgrade the car system

[Glenn.]

Closing the ride completely and ripping it down is ludicrous

[user104658]

Should just replace it tbh, take the loss. Not because I think the ride is dangerous, but surely it's not good for business to still have it and remind visitors of the tragedy on their fun day out.

Some thrill seekers aside, going to a theme park and seeing a ride and thinking "oh yeah, that's the one where people lost legs..." isn't exactly appealing... regardless of how safe you think it is.

Seems like it'd be a bad smell that's better off gone.

Yeah that's my original thinking really. I mean I tend to stick to thinking about things rationally and even knowing that the ride would probably be as safe as - probably safer than - any other ride now... I'd still be massively crapping in my pants if I got on it D:.

Maybe that could be part of the thrill though? "Come on the smiler! You might lose a limb!"

[LukeB]

Closing the ride completely and ripping it down is ludicrous

They can always make it a better ride and call it something else

[Glenn.]

They can always make it a better ride and call it something else

It's just not realistic.

[user104658]

They can always make it a better ride and call it something else

"The Chomper"

http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9h7xqdUj71rdq2opo1_500.jpg

[LukeB]

It's just not realistic.

It is tho, they can knock it down and bulid a new one.. they have done this before.. r.i.p Corkscrew

[LukeB]

"The Chomper"

http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9h7xqdUj71rdq2opo1_500.jpg

I think Dollface will love this :smug:

[Mitchell]

I think they should get rid of it and put a better/more stable coaster in it's place

I don't think destroying a 18 million rollercoasters a viable option considering its human error.

I think the accident is horrific and I am so sorry to the girls who have lost their leg, however this is a one in a gazillion freak accident and its a business.

[Samuel.]

Yeah that's my original thinking really. I mean I tend to stick to thinking about things rationally and even knowing that the ride would probably be as safe as - probably safer than - any other ride now... I'd still be massively crapping in my pants if I got on it D:.

Maybe that could be part of the thrill though? "Come on the smiler! You might lose a limb!"

Same. It's a bit Final Destination... but you know there's going to be people out there dying to get on it now, maybe Alton Towers should lean into it. Get #SmilerSurviver trending, sell some "I survived The Smiler" merchandise.

[Dollface]

Tbh, before I had seen the pictures, I probably would have gone on The Smiler despite knowing that an accident occurred on it. But after seeing what it's done to those 2 girls (it's completely altered their lives) I think it would be insulting (to them) if I went on the ride that did that to them, putting my own legs at risk, just for the sake of a quick thrill.

[Dollface]

"The Chomper"

http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9h7xqdUj71rdq2opo1_500.jpg

I think Dollface will love this :smug:

Now this is a good idea :smug:

[Glenn.]

It is tho, they can knock it down and bulid a new one.. they have done this before.. r.i.p Corkscrew

Corkscrew was over 20yrs old. The Smiler is 2yrs old. Alton Towers will not too down a multi million pound rollercoaster because of a freak accident. One that was human error. The coaster has nothing wrong with it.

[Dollface]

Corkscrew was over 20yrs old. The Smiler is 2yrs old. Alton Towers will not too down a multi million pound rollercoaster because of a freak accident. One that was human error. The coaster has nothing wrong with it.

If the coaster had nothing wrong with it, it would have had something put in place to stop passengers legs from being crushed if an accident was to occur.

[Glenn.]

If the coaster had nothing wrong with it, it would have had something put in place to stop passengers legs from being crushed if an accident was to occur.

The coaster cars aren't supposed to smash into each other to cause that kind of accident. That was the ride operators fault. Not the coaster.

[user104658]

Corkscrew was over 20yrs old. The Smiler is 2yrs old. Alton Towers will not too down a multi million pound rollercoaster because of a freak accident. One that was human error. The coaster has nothing wrong with it.

It doesn't have anything wrong with it, no, and like I said it's probably one of the SAFEST coasters in the world now (because they will surely triple-check every bolt forever) BUT it's not about whether or not it is physically safe, it's how people's gut will feel when actually faced with the prospect of climbing on. Many people will simply not want to.


...the best rides at Alton Towers are the River Rapids and the Log Flume anyway :shrug:. Genuinely hilarious with a group of friends.

[user104658]

AND no one has lost a limb on the rapids. Me and a few friends did get stuck on it for nearly half an hour though. Damn thing got stuck into a corner and every time it was about to float free, the next one came along and bumped us back in :(.

[Glenn.]

It doesn't have anything wrong with it, no, and like I said it's probably one of the SAFEST coasters in the world now (because they will surely triple-check every bolt forever) BUT it's not about whether or not it is physically safe, it's how people's gut will feel when actually faced with the prospect of climbing on. Many people will simply not want to.


...the best rides at Alton Towers are the River Rapids and the Log Flume anyway :shrug:. Genuinely hilarious with a group of friends.

That's the draw of roller coasters. That's the point of theme. When I go onto a rollercoaster allsorts of ideas enter my head about what could go wrong. I still ride them.

[MTVN]

Hasn't the Smiler been plagued by technical problems since it was built and even on the day itself there had been issues with it before the accident

[Liam-]

Tear down all roller coasters and be done with it, awful things.

[LukeB]

no

[LukeB]

Hasn't the Smiler been plagued by technical problems since it was built and even on the day itself there had been issues with it before the accident

:worry: Maybe, I can't remember

[DemolitionRed]

From what I've been told, every time an empty carriage was circulated round the track, a number of manual checks had to be carried out and ticked off. The person who was meant to be doing these checks ticked off that they had done them, when in fact they hadn't done anything of the sort. This was a disaster waiting to happen because of the sheer lack of vigilance on how staff were performing. The responsibility starts with the lazy ride operator right up to Nick Varney. They are all culpritable.

I think the ride should perhaps open next spring but not before.

[Mitchell]

Hasn't the Smiler been plagued by technical problems since it was built and even on the day itself there had been issues with it before the accident

Every ride in the world has these issues daily to be honest, people just make a huge deal when something like this happens.

[user104658]

That's the draw of roller coasters. That's the point of theme. When I go onto a rollercoaster allsorts of ideas enter my head about what could go wrong. I still ride them.

Hypothetically - if you were on the smiler when it crashed and lost a leg, would you think "Oh well, that's the risk you take for the thrill"?

I'm not mocking here, genuinely interested, some "extreme sportsmen" (gear-free climbers, base jumpers etc.) who have ended up with serious injuries really do see it that way.

[Ashley.]

As long as they get smarter operators, yes, but I think we should wait a bit longer.

[LukeB]

From what I've been told, every time an empty carriage was circulated round the track, a number of manual checks had to be carried out and ticked off. The person who was meant to be doing these checks ticked off that they had done them, when in fact they hadn't done anything of the sort. This was a disaster waiting to happen because of the sheer lack of vigilance on how staff were performing. The responsibility starts with the lazy ride operator right up to Nick Varney. They are all culpritable.

I think the ride should perhaps open next spring but not before.

Yeah I agree with that, It's way too soon to re-open it.. There's always Air,Rita and Oblivion :flutter:

[Glenn.]

Hypothetically - if you were on the smiler when it crashed and lost a leg, would you think "Oh well, that's the risk you take for the thrill"?

I'm not mocking here, genuinely interested, some "extreme sportsmen" (gear-free climbers, base jumpers etc.) who have ended up with serious injuries really do see it that way.

Well it would be a massive pain in the arse to lose a leg but I would just sue the pants off them and I would be rich.

[user104658]

Well it would be a massive pain in the arse to lose a leg but I would just sue the pants off them and I would be rich.

True, I'd lose a leg from the knee down for a couple of million to be honest. Above the knee I'd want at least 5 mil.

[Glenn.]

True, I'd lose a leg from the knee down for a couple of million to be honest. Above the knee I'd want at least 5 mil.

Same. It would soften the blow a little. It wouldn't be the end of the world.

[Ashley.]

Well it would be a massive pain in the arse to lose a leg but I would just sue the pants off them and I would be rich.

yeah it probably would hurt a bit

[Mitchell]

They've been testing cars around the track with dummies (different weights, different car amounts) and its looking likely to open before the end of the season for the record.

(I still have many friends who are theme park enthusiasts, I was a huge one until I got back into TV majorly.)

[LukeB]

yeah it probably would hurt a bit

A bit? :omgno:

[user104658]

(I still have many friends who are theme park enthusiasts, I was a huge one until I got back into TV majorly.)

I'm so confused. Are these two hobbies mutually exclusive?

[Tom4784]

I doubt it'll open again if it hasn't by now. Too much bad press. They'll likely replace it with something else.

[Mitchell]

I'm so confused. Are these two hobbies mutually exclusive?

Na, I just sort of phased out of theme parks, football among other things and got back involved in TV and Disney (these sorts of forums) and sort of just lost interest, although I will catch up now and again.

[DemolitionRed]

Well it would be a massive pain in the arse to lose a leg but I would just sue the pants off them and I would be rich.

Alton Towers are giving all the victims of this disaster more money than any law suit would ever trump up. On top of that they are ensuring that those who have permanent disabilities have their own house with full facilities to accommodate them, a disability car and all the private nursing care they will ever need.

Its called damage limitation, for them, not the victims in this accident.

[T*]

And the smiler is Alton Towers biggest attraction

that, or nemisis.

I think it should reopen, but not yet

[Mitchell]

that, or nemisis.

I think it should reopen, but not yet

Unlike Thorpe Park with Stealth, I don't really think Alton Towers has a headliner ride?

[LukeB]

Unlike Thorpe Park with Stealth, I don't really think Alton Towers has a headliner ride?

Isn't it Nemesis? till this day it's their best ride they have.

[DemolitionRed]

Hasn't the Smiler been plagued by technical problems since it was built and even on the day itself there had been issues with it before the accident

Yes, its spent as much time being closed as it has being open but that's because its a very complex structure that mainly runs off a computer system. The tiniest error in that system will close the ride down, not because its necessarily unsafe but because it is programmed to be over cautious.

[Mitchell]

Isn't it Nemesis? till this day it's their best ride they have.

May be the best ride, but its not one everyone talks about (considering Thorpe has a nemesis too)

May sound odd, but I've heard more people rave about Charlie and Chocolate factory than Nemesis.

Maybe Rita?

I'd say Thorpe has Stealth, Chessington has Bubbleworks, Legoland has The Dragon?

[LukeB]

May be the best ride, but its not one everyone talks about (considering Thorpe has a nemesis too)

May sound odd, but I've heard more people rave about Charlie and Chocolate factory than Nemesis.

Maybe Rita?

I'd say Thorpe has Stealth, Chessington has Bubbleworks, Legoland has The Dragon?

True and pleasure beach as Pepsi Max

[DemolitionRed]

That's the draw of roller coasters. That's the point of theme. When I go onto a rollercoaster allsorts of ideas enter my head about what could go wrong. I still ride them.

Me and mine are high wall climbers who venture thousands of feet up vertical walls with a few ropes and some necessary bits of kit. I've never been on a roller coaster in my life though. Just the thought of what could happen absolutely freaks me out!.

[Cherie]

Hasn't the Smiler been plagued by technical problems since it was built and even on the day itself there had been issues with it before the accident

Yes it has was just coming in to post this, so it was not a freak one off accident

[Ithinkiloveyoutoo]

http://i.imgur.com/Hh09ibZ.gif

[RichardG]

Hasn't the Smiler been plagued by technical problems since it was built and even on the day itself there had been issues with it before the accident

Yeah I heard it was always having issues

Maybe I'm crazy but I feel like "the rollercoaster with the most number of loops" is a title that should go to a bigger ride in a bigger theme park with more land available. I've never seen it in person but on screen at least it always looked pretty small and cramped. Regardless of their decision I think with their next build they should instead focus on making one a bit more appropriate to the space they have rather than always trying to break another world record... I'm not necessarily saying that's the reason it broke that day, last I heard it was human error(?) but idk it just never really looked 'right' to me, I heard some people say it was super uncomfortable/kept getting bashed about everywhere!!

[GypsyGoth]

I've heard the girl who's leg was amputated speak about that awful accident, it's truly harrowing. I feel that they should dismantle it and build something new.

[T*]

Yeah I heard it was always having issues

Maybe I'm crazy but I feel like "the rollercoaster with the most number of loops" is a title that should go to a bigger ride in a bigger theme park with more land available. I've never seen it in person but on screen at least it always looked pretty small and cramped. Regardless of their decision I think with their next build they should instead focus on making one a bit more appropriate to the space they have rather than always trying to break another world record... I'm not necessarily saying that's the reason it broke that day, last I heard it was human error(?) but idk it just never really looked 'right' to me, I heard some people say it was super uncomfortable/kept getting bashed about everywhere!!

not to mention that they have to build rollercoasters within the height of trees so they have to dig way down to build stuff

[Amy Jade]

I don't think it should have been closed this long really, it was a freak accident like a plane crash.

[Alf]

Alton Towers admits Smiler ride safety breaches

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36111412

[arista]

I think not yet... i do think it should be re-opened as long as it's safe and secure like other rides.


They have admitted they are Guilty

There was a warning
but the Bloke ignored the Screen

The next Warning needs a Loud Alarm
with it. Or Something.

[DemolitionRed]

Human error. That staff member has to live with what he did and his bosses have to live with allowing a staff member override something so fundamentally important.

[arista]

Human error. That staff member has to live with what he did and his bosses have to live with allowing a staff member override something so fundamentally important.



Yes and Soon a Mega Fine,

[LukeB]

They have admitted they are Guilty

There was a warning
but the Bloke ignored the Screen

The next Warning needs a Loud Alarm
with it. Or Something.

I said that last year

[DemolitionRed]

Yes and Soon a Mega Fine,

They have been fully expecting that. At least they haven't tried to wriggle out of things.

[Kizzy]

I think they've been trying to wriggle out of it this past year, fancy being able to manually override a detected error :/

[DemolitionRed]

An update....

The Smiler has a number of things that can go wrong. One of those things is a loose empty carriage on the track. This is called 'valleying' and when valleying happens, an alarm goes off in the control room. Once the valleying alarm goes off, the ride must be stopped/halted and the vast camera system must be checked for a stray carriage on the line.

The problem is, the valleying alarm goes off half a dozen times a day and this member of staff, a woman, happened to become complacent. She says she stopped the ride and checked the cameras but didn't see anything else on the track. The likelihood is, she didn't check anything.

Now here's an interesting thing and something the press have yet to pick up on. Before a ride like this is opened it has to go through rigorous tests and part of those tests are sending the trains along with crash dummies, round the tracks hundreds of times. During that testing an almost identical incident happened and the crash dummies received severe leg crush. The system was modified to be more sensitive but the problem with that is, the warning alarm became such a regular occurrence that at least one person didn't continue to take it seriously.

All compensation has now been settled but because health and safety was breached, there will be a £multi-million fine.

The ride is running again.

[T*]

Damn... I bet she got whisked away quickly

[DemolitionRed]

Damn... I bet she got whisked away quickly

Yep, she has to live with her carelessness but the owners of the park are ultimately responsible.

[Marsh.]

No concern for human life at all.

[DemolitionRed]

No concern for human life at all.

I don't think its because she or the park owners had no concern for human life. The last thing any of those people wanted was for park attendees to come to any harm.

The exact thing that caused this accident was human error but she alone was not responsible, in fact she was the least responsible because the people who trained her and who she has to answer to, were not following procedures to ensure she couldn't make the very mistake she made.

[Livia]

An update....

The Smiler has a number of things that can go wrong. One of those things is a loose empty carriage on the track. This is called 'valleying' and when valleying happens, an alarm goes off in the control room. Once the valleying alarm goes off, the ride must be stopped/halted and the vast camera system must be checked for a stray carriage on the line.

The problem is, the valleying alarm goes off half a dozen times a day and this member of staff, a woman, happened to become complacent. She says she stopped the ride and checked the cameras but didn't see anything else on the track. The likelihood is, she didn't check anything.

Now here's an interesting thing and something the press have yet to pick up on. Before a ride like this is opened it has to go through rigorous tests and part of those tests are sending the trains along with crash dummies, round the tracks hundreds of times. During that testing an almost identical incident happened and the crash dummies received severe leg crush. The system was modified to be more sensitive but the problem with that is, the warning alarm became such a regular occurrence that at least one person didn't continue to take it seriously.

All compensation has now been settled but because health and safety was breached, there will be a £multi-million fine.

The ride is running again.

As evidence goes, claiming that the "likelihood is" that she didn't check, is just about as flimsy as you can get. Blame it on the lowest operator seems to be the norm.

[Kizzy]

An update....

The Smiler has a number of things that can go wrong. One of those things is a loose empty carriage on the track. This is called 'valleying' and when valleying happens, an alarm goes off in the control room. Once the valleying alarm goes off, the ride must be stopped/halted and the vast camera system must be checked for a stray carriage on the line.

The problem is, the valleying alarm goes off half a dozen times a day and this member of staff, a woman, happened to become complacent. She says she stopped the ride and checked the cameras but didn't see anything else on the track. The likelihood is, she didn't check anything.

Now here's an interesting thing and something the press have yet to pick up on. Before a ride like this is opened it has to go through rigorous tests and part of those tests are sending the trains along with crash dummies, round the tracks hundreds of times. During that testing an almost identical incident happened and the crash dummies received severe leg crush. The system was modified to be more sensitive but the problem with that is, the warning alarm became such a regular occurrence that at least one person didn't continue to take it seriously.

All compensation has now been settled but because health and safety was breached, there will be a £multi-million fine.

The ride is running again.

This can't be an official response?...