Oblivion: General Discussion

[AltonLover123]

It could do with an industrial batch of Cillit Bang But I totally agree ,It should next be on the agenda for a refresh, The Oblivion queueline is looking very tired and the glass blocks before "the cages" look like 1980s toilet decor

Yeah. I would want them to keep the concept of the theme. I don’t think going balls to the wall of a change is needed. The theme works. People are still terrified of the ride and the concept works. Just make it new, fresh and better

 

[flyingguitar]

Granted: reprofiling Oblivion might be a costly job, but a cheaper enhancement they could make would be to add lap bars to The Smiler at Alton Towers, as well as to Colossus at Thorpe Park (assuming that these modifications are possible) – even if it was only on one of the trains! (I believe there is a ride somewhere that has different restraint types on each train)

I don't think lapbars are possible on either, as the tight clerances mandate it (when in a lap bar, you can move you whole upper body allowing you to reach further) perhaps you could get away with vest restraints on oblivion, but they have their own problems.

 

[Slugjc]

I'm sure I have stated before in the pages of this thread prior. Sorry if I am repeating.

Oblivion is of British turn of the century design. Clean, bold, basic and confident. Although i always think it's well designed It's beginning to show it's age. That part of the 90s feels very out of date now.Especially as Britain doesn't seem as confident in itself.

X-sector as an area should have been updated when the smiler came in. I think it would have been, if that rode simply didn't have so many set backs cost wise. Especially since submission went. The smiler theme seems bolted onto oblivion, it would have been suited to have made the theming run down. Rust, leaking pipes etc.

Oblivion, secretly has the best feature of any queue ride. That's the oblivion themed paving slabs. I adore those things.

 

[Jb85]

I'm sure I have stated before in the pages of this thread prior. Sorry if I am repeating.

Oblivion is of British turn of the century design. Clean, bold, basic and confident. Although i always think it's well designed It's beginning to show it's age. That part of the 90s feels very out of date now.Especially as Britain doesn't seem as confident in itself.

X-sector as an area should have been updated when the smiler came in. I think it would have been, if that rode simply didn't have so many set backs cost wise. Especially since submission went. The smiler theme seems bolted onto oblivion, it would have been suited to have made the theming run down. Rust, leaking pipes etc.

Oblivion, secretly has the best feature of any queue ride. That's the oblivion themed paving slabs. I adore those things.

Oblivion does have rusting, leaking pipes etc

Themed by accident

 

[Slugjc]

Oblivion does have rusting, leaking pipes etc

Themed by accident

Sometimes mother nature is the best at theming.

Thirteen being a case. Looks better now she has had time to grow.

 

[Ares]

Does anybody know why Oblivion is shut?

 

[Poisson]

Does anybody know why Oblivion is shut?

There's a Stoke based technical company that has been seen near the tunnel. They do fab and electrical so could be anything.

Mectek – Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Specialists

mectek.co.uk

 

[Archie]

I am very worried about Oblivions future. Its my favourite ride in the park and I would be devistated to see it go. I just hope that it gets a makeover and rebuild, even if not quite to the scale of nemesis, just something to keep it going for a bit longer.

 

[JAperson]

I am very worried about Oblivions future. Its my favourite ride in the park and I would be devistated to see it go. I just hope that it gets a makeover and rebuild, even if not quite to the scale of nemesis, just something to keep it going for a bit longer.

It's been closed for like a week, and they are working on it. I don't think you need to be worried just yet. Eventually maybe, depending what they feel the long term future of the ride is, but I'm guessing it'll be safe for a good few years yet. Obviously, we have no idea what kind of scale of an issue they have got, but I imagine they will get it open as soon as they can (for nothing else than they need the capacity, and want the fastrack sales!).

 

[tayspru]

There’s a somewhat unfounded rumour going around that there’s been a serious concrete issue with the tunnel, based on the contractors spotted on site.

A tunnel collapse would be a huge problem, but I could see a “refresh” of X -Sector being considered - and the original open pit concept being adopted as a selling point for that

 

[spotweld]

Where has the rumour come from?

 

[tayspru]

Where has the rumour come from?

Multiple X users who have seen the contractors in and out of the site, and have found what the contractors do (concrete works)

 

[flyingguitar]

I would doubt a tunnel collapse has happened as there would need to be some serious neglect to the tunnel for that to happen as a lot of the signs should be clear (cracking, crumbling, moving, etc) prior to it collapsing

I wouldn't be too supprised if it was some crack, etc that they are concerned about but a colapse I would find very doubtfull especially since the track, supports, and likely the tunnel should be inspecteed everyday during a track walk.

 

[tayspru]

I would doubt a tunnel collapse has happened as there would need to be some serious neglect to the tunnel for that to happen as a lot of the signs should be clear (cracking, crumbling, moving, etc) prior to it collapsing

I wouldn't be too supprised if it was some crack, etc that they are concerned about but a colapse I would find very doubtfull especially since the track, supports, and likely the tunnel should be inspecteed everyday during a track walk.

Because Merlin are famed for their commitment to preventative maintenance, of course

 

[flyingguitar]

Because Merlin are famed for their commitment to preventative maintenance, of course

but this is a serious saftey concern, it isn't a piece of theming, this is essentially ride hardware something which they are often ontop of for maitanence and saftey upgrades.

if a crumbling bit of tunnel fell onto a train that could kill some one, for a collapse to happen it would have had to be crumbling for a while (like months to years)

I think it will likely be some crack, crumbling noticed or some other issue that may indicate problems (e.g water leaking in) if it is a concret problem

 

[Poisson]

The company spotted do all sorts of engineering work. I'm not sure why people are jumping to a tunnel collapse when it could be anything from evac lighting failure to pump failure to any other not massively serious issue.

 

[Hid]

There’s a somewhat unfounded rumour going around that there’s been a serious concrete issue with the tunnel, based on the contractors spotted on site.

A tunnel collapse would be a huge problem, but I could see a “refresh” of X -Sector being considered - and the original open pit concept being adopted as a selling point for that

Are these the same people that claimed Vampire was sinking.

I doubt Oblivion haa something that major

 

[AltonLover123]

Are these the same people that claimed Vampire was sinking.

I doubt Oblivion haa something that major

Exactly that. We have no idea and likely never will.

 

[BarryZola]

I'm surprised no-one has sent the company an email asking what work they're doing.

 

[Ares]

I've seen another X user comment that the ride is awaiting a new lift motor from Germany and other works are taking place in the tunnel in the intermediate. Hard to say what is or isn't true. Just have to wait and see.