I was at Kings Island on June 1st and noticed how long it took some people to get into and out of the restraints. The ride-ops weren't exactly very enthusiastic either, so this equaled long dispatch times and train stacking. Well, I was thinking, what if everyone had a basic knowledge of coasters, like us? Could dispatch times be cut in half, making lines shorter than ever? Well, I think it could. I know this is never going to happen, but here's my idea: Everyone steps into the train and pulls down the restraints. Once they are locked, the rides quickly check their own restraints, like the ride-ops wold normally do. Then, they would give some signal to show that they are ready, and the train would be dispatched. I figure that trains could be dispatched every 30 to 45 seconds with this method, if an unloading station was used too. Without an unloading station, probably about 45 seconds to a minute. I just want see if these times or shorter would be would be possible using this method. I konw it's not going to happen, I just want to see if it would work.

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They would still have to wait for a train to enter the next block before dispatching the next train. At small parks they might do this... but never at even moderate size parks. If the crew is trained and the restraints are simple enough, the trains can be pumped out at a good pace. Such as the RnRC, that's one of the main strong points of this ride is the fast loading.

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Yes, but then you would have to people that like to get a LOT of air, so they hardly would put the restraints down at all. Then, they would fly out of the car, and there would be more deaths then ever on coasters. I think the way it is now is fine, but maybe if they had signs that they "Hey! Do you want to wait half the time? Then here is how you put on the restraint." Then they could have a diagram of the restraint system, and explain how you must push down, [I]then[/I] pull up on the restraint. How hard can that be to comprehend? Anyway, ideally that would be great. Unfortunately the world is full of crazy lemons...

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usually they have to wait for the next block to be clear, so it's not really a problem. Double stations is probably more effective.

Yes, double stations are EXTREMELY effective. I think it is the best way yet and shows that designers are thinking about loading times... S:UF has much faster loading times now AND it has a double station, as well as high capacity, so the line moves very quickly.

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General knowledge would definately help single train coasters, like Raven, Cornball Express, shuttle coasters, etc. Just wondering, how exactly do double stations help?


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you know what's sad? Most of the basic information about the ride are in the signs that people ignore. Some rides (Stealth at PGA) had a diagram of the restraints and an explaination of how to get in them. they also had videos of people getting in and out of the train and it was the same info on the signs. Then the ride-ops even repeated them to the guests. Even with all of that people were STILL confused as to what to do. I waited about three hours for it, but if people would go quickly I could have shaved about half an hour off of the wait. Double stations are great, especially for California' Screamin because the coaster is long, it has lot's of blocks, and ran six trains (three on each side) when I was there.

Double stations allow more people to load at a time then a single station. Think about it, in a Single station you have to wait for the people in front of you to load. In a double station that still holds true, but half of the people are in the other station taking there sweet 'ol time. It helps by having a train ready to go as soon as the blocks are clear. Most times it helps reduce staking (when a train has to wait in the final brakes because a train in the station hasn't left yet.

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I think that the ride ops don't work hard enough. once I was at Dorney and the people there were soooooooo lazy. i do believe the ride ops words were, " It's been a long summer." Now , I really don't care how long of a summer it's been. I came to the park to ride the rides, and the least they can do is make the lines move faster by doing there jobs quickly and effeciantly, that's what there paid to do Right? By all means please correct me if I'm wrong.

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Actually, the most frequent application of double stations is to have a second station around the second set of brakes -- where a train would normally begin to stack -- and have riders unload there, at the same time another train is loading in front of them. That way, you don't have to wait for someone to get out of the train in front of you, pick up their hat / bag from the car or seat, and get out of your way -- rather, as soon as the train has stopped it's ready for you to get in, and the restraints are already open and everything.

I think another thing that really helps how quickly a coaster loads is the enthusiasm of the crew -- in quite a few parks I see the ride ops don't care, they're not hustling, they're not spieling, and consequently everything is really laid back and takes longer. At a park like Cedar Point, however, when they're really moving and pushing to get their jobs done, it seems to affect the riders in as much as having everyone more "with it" to keep the ride going well.

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I've seen some ride op go super fast when checking. It almost seems as if they're having a race. Maybe if they raced everyday and however won the most got a bonus they would move faster. hmm... lol well I see how some problems could be caused by that with some ride ops trying to win so they just didnt really check but still it would be a cool idea. Also, can't the ride computer system already tell if the seats are locked? The ride ops however are still needed to make sure everyone is seated properly and pulled their restraint properly. But on coasters with seatbelts connecting to the restraints, are the seatbelts not locked by the computers. Whenever I'm on the end brakes for Medusa I see so many people undoing their seat belts. The harness of course is still locked but their seat belts are unbelted. Could someone do this in the course of the ride (I'd never try because I'd get too scared) or are they unlocked upon reaching the brakes? Correct me if I'm wrong for these are just my ponderings.

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The biggest case in poiint I can think of where I actually see them go through very fast is on Magnum at CP. Hardly anyone has to struggle with the restraints as they are much easier to operate and are more accomodating to bigger people. In fact, sometimes they send a train off a little too fast, and I've gotten stuck on the lift hill because of that once.

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I think it would suck. It would make lines even longer.

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