Redevelopment of Katanga Canyon

[Benjsh]

Seeing as CRR is having pretty substantial work to it's life and station this closed season, some work currently on going, they do plan to keep the ride for the immediate future, as you wouldn't spent huge sums on two of the three most crucial bits of infostructure the ride has, if you planned to remove it in the next few seasons. Well, Merlin would not anyway, that I am sure of, but they are.

Define substantial.

Are they doing extra work on it or are they just doing the bits they do normally when the park is shut that we dont get to see?

I give it 2 more years at best. These types of attractions now are simply way too expensive to run. Id imagine the most expensive of all the rides at the park due to the ridiculous rise in energy costs and also the extra staffing it requires.

 

[DistortAMG]

Define substantial.

Are they doing extra work on it or are they just doing the bits they do normally when the park is shut that we dont get to see?

I give it 2 more years at best. These types of attractions now are simply way too expensive to run. Id imagine the most expensive of all the rides at the park due to the ridiculous rise in energy costs and also the extra staffing it requires.

They are replacing the lift hill wooden slats, these can last anywhere between 5 and 10 years depending on a few factors if I remember correctly. They are made of very durable timber and the work that appears to be going on, is not the type of work that is done every single closed season. These timbers are not cheap and are designed to last many years, so in that respect, these repairs will give the ride a substantial extension of life, if the ride was planned to be shut in a few years, it is not the type of work I would expect to see being carried out, not at a Merlin park.

It could also be the case that they deem it viable to do this work for just a few seasons. Knowing Merlin though and the staffing costs of these rides along side a partial / full lift hill replacement, I would have thought they would just close it if it was going soon.

EDIT, also edited the original message very slightly to make it more readable, didn't proof read, apologies, I was in a rush.

 

[Poisson]

They also seem to be replacing a lot of the metalwork on the lift too, plus the platform over the sluice gate seems to be replaced.

 

[DistortAMG]

They also seem to be replacing a lot of the metalwork on the lift too, plus the platform over the sluice gate seems to be replaced.

The metal work has an even longer service life than the wood, decades not years. While these works do not indicate the ride is staying forever, it does in my view, indicate that they have no plans in the immediate future to remove the ride, as the works being carried out are fairly substantial.

Good, because it is probably the best layout rapids ride in the country that feels the most planted and natural into it's landscape. There are plenty of other sites across the park prime for major redevelopment, I do not think this area should be one of them. It utilises the large, expansive space Alton Towers in known for well, into an area with a great layout, great spacious queue lines and overall just an area with a nice vibe to be in. Even when stuck deep in the queue line of say CRR's.

It could do with a refresh mind you, a redevelopment though? Nah.