AstroDan

Alton Towers nearly always closes earlier than Thorpe, Legoland and Blackpool. Whilst it's annoying, it takes about 90 minutes post ride close to clear the park of guests. At Thorpe it takes 15-20 and Chessington not much more...

I have no idea but last weekend Fastrack was using the exit.

Was fine at the weekend. Nemesis is 99% reliably itself!

Alton Towers has had poor closing times for many, many years apart from the last 3 weeks of the season when it extends to 9pm. They obviously don't get KPI issues with them otherwise they'd open later.

The idea of a Merlin park cutting sales on the top level Fastrack because of VIP pass holders is hilarious. The parks have very rigid sales targets for Fastrack and unless Merlin are directly compensating them for every VIP that enters the park then I can't really see it happening.

The new show launches in May.

None of the changes are good. Single Rider probably does count for around 800 people per day on Nemesis. Those 800 will now either not ride or join the main queue. It is also damaging to Oblivion because with 1/2 capacity running on all days where >10000 guests are forecast will reduce the single rider spaces and cause backlogs of Fastrack. The whole thing is poor. I suggest people write to Alton Towers and/or Merlin to express their feelings.

English language trailer for EP's new custom made 4D film - the follow up to the immensely popular Secret of Balthasar Castle, which closed at the end of last season. THE TIME CAROUSEL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8-p4e5Y7iY

The reason the SRQ has been removed is because an extra ride host is required in the station. This costs money and with the massive cuts to Alton Towers operational budget this season, it has gone. It is for the same reason that the SRQ has gone from Rita, too.

It is not likely to be closed. One of the trains was running in February so it has probably run itself in now. It might have to go to low capacity, or they might close certain rows.

It definitely wasn't taking 5 minutes when I rode. Around 3 it was.

Octonauts had 20 dispatches per hour and completed 2 circuits.

I have been visiting this park since 1990 and held a pass for 10 years. I have never known such bad practise here.

Appalling day today. Terrible capacity on some rides, masses of late openings and removal of SRQ in some cases. Not managed to do anywhere near all the coasters. This place is going down.

Ricky - as much as you have some valid points, surely you must accept that the current situation is poor and there MUST be some project management or SOMETHING which has been done badly? The gravity of rides unavailable across Thorpe and Chessington can't simply be down to bad luck. It doesn't happen at most parks. Of course sometimes the odd ride has problems and as with anything, sometimes it's outside the park's control - but not 1/4 of the rides. This isn't a campaign or slur against individual technicians whom I am sure do a very conscientious and good job. It's about systems and hierarchies.

The TowersStreet Facebook has revealed that Alton Towers have a new 4D film for 2015 in the Ice Age theatre! Great news... the old one had done its time and this an unexpected new addition for the new season! "Ice Age - The 4D Experience: No time for nuts!" featuring SCRAT!

I hope Alton Towers manage to get their rides open on Saturday...

My giddy aunt.

Tomahawk is my 3rd favourite coaster at PA! Awesome news!

Towersstreet playforblade is successful!

Nemesis Sub Terra is dying on its knees. Saw Alive failed. Krake Lebt failed. Will this be different is the question?

Sub Terra opened at 11am for nearly the whole of last season along with Rapids, Flume, Hex and one or two other smaller rides.

What concerns me more is that Nemesis Sub Terra requires an ABSURD number of staff given how unpopular it is. There are typically around 10 staff in total... madness. Alton Towers need to add rides that don't require such absurd numbers. Perhaps automated locker facilities would help, too.

Nemesis Sub-Terra has been a complete failure of a ride for Alton Towers. It is sad, because it actually represented a step forwards in many ways - thematically/experience it is quite strong. But it has no re-ride factor, no queue and the height restriction is too high.

These things don't happen at most major theme parks. I fully support what you have said about the individualised reasons behind these rides requiring additional work, but surely they should be able to deal with this - in any project management, you always allow for buffer periods in case of need. It is common. Rides require maintenance or refurbishment or a strip down and re-build. It's part of the deal in the technical aspect of running a theme park. If I went to Alton Towers this Saturday and 25% of the rides were closed (which was the case for most of Saturday at Thorpe Park) then it would be the poorest ride availability the theme park had ever seen. But with Thorpe Park, it's almost like it is to be expected. Why should it be expected? It is not like this is a one off - it has been happening for years.