May 4, 201510 yr Author comment_208599 I thought the fire only happened every 3 trains? Seems to change a lot. Usually it's every 3 trains, but sometimes it's more (I've seen it anything up to once every 7 trains, though that was in 2012) or less. Some Summer Nights that I went to they had it going off every train which was pretty sweet.
May 4, 201510 yr comment_208600 I thought the fire only happened every 3 trains? It changes a lot I think. I remember it being 1 every 2 last year, and this year I've only seen it 1 every 3. The fire engine was sporadically spiting out flames too, but it only seem to be every second train and only when the train was at the top of the drop, timing wasn't quiet right on it. Yeah I noticed that this year. Last year it used to be really close to the train, but not anymore
May 4, 201510 yr comment_208601 Yesterday it was every 3 trains (I like to count as I like to try and get fire where possible ) The original timing was when the train was at the top of the zero g roll. Last year it was changed to when the train is at the bottom of the first drop which from what I saw yesterday was what was happening. They tried every one, kept filling the area with gas though as it didn't always ignite (and it would go off every minute or so). 7 was a bit extreme in the it hardly ever happens sense so 3 seems to have become the settled upon number.
May 4, 201510 yr comment_208617 I have never ever had the fire effect go off while I've been on the swarm and I go on it at least once a month, talk about bad luck haha
May 4, 201510 yr comment_208620 ^ The one time it went off for me I was going backwards! I did notice the other week that the fire had definitely become more frequent than I'd noticed before, you really felt the heat from it, too. Even from the ORP desk!
May 4, 201510 yr comment_208622 I've had quite a lot of rides where the fire effect has gone off, a few times front seat at night which is always pretty good
May 4, 201510 yr comment_208627 Every three trains it must have been then, to be honest I was so dizzy from continuous re-rides my son was insisting on it could have been alight continuously and it probably wouldn't have registered with me. We never did see it go off while on the ride though, I must inform Jr of that, he will insist we return immediately and ride until we do see it *evilgrin*
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209667 Why does Swarm nearly always open on 1 train and thus have a massive queue? Right now it's 110 minutes... why not open on 2? Seems poor service. Or is there a genuine reason?
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209668 They try to get all rides open then finish work on the second train and put it on when the demand is there
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209669 They try to get all rides open then finish work on the second train and put it on when the demand is there Hehe, 'demand'... The maintenance department is lacking severly in numbers, it's a poor excuse, especially when Thorpe don't particularly consider 'demand' as 30+ minute queues on some days...
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209675 They try to get all rides open then finish work on the second train and put it on when the demand is there110minutes isn't demand...?Dread to think what kind of queues you like to stand in.
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209686 Running one train is better for the environment or some crap like that. Don't shoot the messenger, it was just something I heard (here I think) not sure if it was a serious comment though. 110minutes isn't demand...? Dread to think what kind of queues you like to stand in. This is the point I was making about Chessington, a lot of people are satisfied to sit in a queue for 2 hours, it's beyond me why anybody would, but if Chessington on Monday was anything to go by, there are far more people willing to do it than not, and what's worse is they go back, day after day to rinse and repeat (some people I know who were there Monday have gone back today too, paying full price to get in, crazy!). All the time the crazies are prepared to pay full price to sit in a queue and not complain, nothing will change operation-wise.
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209688 Why can't these parks take a leaf out of Alton Towers' book? It would be like the Smiler opening on 2 or something.
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209690 When I went on the Stealth bts with TT, we were told something along the lines of them having to 'prioritise' if you will. As in if they use both trains today, the engineers will have more work to do tomorrow morning and so they mightn't get the rides running on full capacity when it could potentially be needed more tomorrow than today. I don't know if that explanation made the greatest deal of sense but that is what I was told, do with that information what you wish.
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209691 When I went on the Stealth bts with TT, we were told something along the lines of them having to 'prioritise' if you will. As in if they use both trains today, the engineers will have more work to do tomorrow morning and so they mightn't get the rides running on full capacity when it could potentially be needed more tomorrow than today. I don't know if that explanation made the greatest deal of sense but that is what I was told, do with that information what you wish. Some excellent BS right there. Why can't these parks take a leaf out of Alton Towers' book? It would be like the Smiler opening on 2 or something. Something to do with money probably. In the same way Towers likes to close earlier then it should Thorpe likes to run less trains then it should and pretends it's for the guests own good.
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209693 ^^ I did find it quite bemusing myself, especially as it is was the very first thing that we were told, as though they knew how much of a qualm it was for enthusiasts. I've no idea exactly how many engineers there are on park at a time, but I wouldn't have necessarily thought that would've been so much of an issue!
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209706 Towers do close too early but this week I would take 1/2 hour less hours at Alton Towers than the figurative operational rollercoaster of the southern parks.
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209714 Good to see Thorpe have resolved their issues How is it parks like Towers, DLP & Blackpool (to most extents) amongst others can operate daily two train p,U.S. Operations and Thorpe at the best of times somehow cannot, I just can't understand it, it's things like this that can be the difference of somewhere being a world class or regional park.
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209716 Good to see Thorpe have resolved their issues How is it parks like Towers, DLP & Blackpool (to most extents) amongst others can operate daily two train p,U.S. Operations and Thorpe at the best of times somehow cannot, I just can't understand it, it's things like this that can be the difference of somewhere being a world class or regional park. Here, here! I've just spent two days at Alton Towers and not once did they start a coaster on low capacity! I know they save money on opening times (they are dire), but it still doesn't excuse Thorpe's complete lack for care of the customers enjoyment. If 110 minutes isn't demand then what is?!
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209720 What if demand is just the public lingo they use like when a ride is broken, they don't delve into details. I've said it before, they don't have the staff to service all the rides ready on two trains each morning. Yes, they should have the staff and budget to allow two train op at any time. Do you think park managers and ride staff want rides open on one train? As much as you might think it help aids fast track that really isn't the aim even if it sometimes seems like that. It's not acceptable for a ride like Swarm to have a 110 minute queue on one train but Thorpe are only doing the best they can with what they've got. It's higher up you need to look when trying to pin the blame.
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209721 What if demand is just the public lingo they use like when a ride is broken, they don't delve into details. I've said it before, they don't have the staff to service all the rides ready on two trains each morning. Yes, they should have the staff and budget to allow two train op at any time. Do you think park managers and ride staff want rides open on one train? As much as you might think it help aids fast track that really isn't the aim even if it sometimes seems like that. It's not acceptable for a ride like Swarm to have a 110 minute queue on one train but Thorpe are only doing the best they can with what they've got. It's higher up you need to look when trying to pin the blame. So we get to blame Merlin? Yay! In all seriousness though I think that whoever controls the budget Thorpe gets is to blame, they can only work with what they're given and it clearly isn't enough.
May 28, 201510 yr comment_209725 They blew their budget on IAC, so it is their fault, should have bought a few less palm trees and invested that money into maintenance instead. /sarcasm, probably.
July 7, 201510 yr comment_212635 Was at Thorpe yesterday, and it was only on one train. How long has it been like this, and when is it likely to end... Even Fastrack and RnR queues were huge.
July 7, 201510 yr comment_212639 Was at Thorpe yesterday, and it was only on one train. How long has it been like this, and when is it likely to end... Even Fastrack and RnR queues were huge. They absolutely should not offer fastback when running reduced capacity. If they gave the tiniest crap about guest satisfaction over profits they wouldn't.
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