Over 80 passengers stranded on Falkirk Wheel for 30 minutes

Updated
80 passengers get stuck on Falkirk Wheel in Scotland
80 passengers get stuck on Falkirk Wheel in Scotland





Over 80 passengers became stranded on the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland for around 30 minutes on Sunday.

The 81 people got stuck on the boat when it became unable to leave the structure's upper gondola when a hydraulic gate failed to open, reports the BBC.

See also: Visitors stranded midair on Brighton's i360 wheel for hours

See also: Eight people get stuck on top of 100ft rollercoaster


The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift that connects the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal.

A project funded by the Millennium Commission, it was part of a scheme to regenerate the canal system of central Scotland and was opened in 2002 as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Speaking to the Falkirk Herald, a Scottish Canals spokesman said: "During a boat trip on Sunday afternoon, the gate on one of The Falkirk Wheel's gondolas failed to open, leaving the vessel unable to exit the structure.

"Passengers were therefore asked to disembark the boat within the gondola, with everyone on board escorted safely back to the visitor centre.

"Scottish Canals' maintenance team were able to bring the Wheel back into operation after around 30 minutes and all customers affected were given refunds or booked onto later sailings."

The spokesman also thanked the passengers for their "patience and understanding".

The Falkirk Wheel is Scotland's busiest tourist attraction outside a city centre.





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