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Poisson
TS Member
Vekoma would make more sense?
John_P
TS Member
Seeing as Vekoma weren't the company that retracked Python at Efteling I couldn't see them being interested in retracking an old arrow coaster. Plus they've got all those tilt coasters to build.
QTXAdsy
TS Member
For Vampire, I have a suspicion that Taziker will get the nod for a Vampire retrack. Given all the work they have done for PMBO, a fellow Arrow coaster no less, and how they have actually been getting more and more orders for ride retracks overseas, their efforts would not have gone unnoticed by Merlin and they might be a strong competitor to get a contract for a Vampire retrack.
I know some will say Vekoma but then again, this is Merlin who will always look for the cheapest option and when you take in consideration that they would not have to worry about paying for oversea costs and transports, would be a whole cheaper to employ a UK based company to do it though I could see Vekoma still being involved with getting in new trains themselves unless, heaven above, Taziker decided to take it on themselves. I know some will say that is unlikely but if you saw that IAAPA video that in the long term they want to enter the coaster building industry which frankly given what they's done to PMBO they might already be in it, could a Vampire retrack be the big breakthrough they need? Would be interested if we had a coaster manufacture in the UK, who knows what might be possible to build if they don't have to worry about overseas transport costs, especially for the smaller UK parks who likely couldn't afford anything big in the first place?
I know some will say Vekoma but then again, this is Merlin who will always look for the cheapest option and when you take in consideration that they would not have to worry about paying for oversea costs and transports, would be a whole cheaper to employ a UK based company to do it though I could see Vekoma still being involved with getting in new trains themselves unless, heaven above, Taziker decided to take it on themselves. I know some will say that is unlikely but if you saw that IAAPA video that in the long term they want to enter the coaster building industry which frankly given what they's done to PMBO they might already be in it, could a Vampire retrack be the big breakthrough they need? Would be interested if we had a coaster manufacture in the UK, who knows what might be possible to build if they don't have to worry about overseas transport costs, especially for the smaller UK parks who likely couldn't afford anything big in the first place?
Mattie boy
TS Member
I do really think they will need to make a serious decision about vampire sooner rather than later..
LordOfDarkness
TS Member
It croaked on the passholder day last weekend.I'm guessing they've found some issues with Vampire during closed season maintainance...
Announcements in the queue were “engineers are working on the problem but they don’t actually know what the problem is”
Then it shut for the rest of the day.
Guessing it was a serious one they found!
Shame as unfortunately there isn’t any “big” rides and I can’t justify going anymore.
Thameslink Rail
TS Member
Gruffalo is the other one they dropped, (no idea why).
I think if those two are out then they should be desperately looking at what rides they can get working in two weeks.
I think if those two are out then they should be desperately looking at what rides they can get working in two weeks.
Benzin
TS Member
Only reason might be for access to Vampire since it's down the same hill.
Tbh I'd rather they just get rid of the swinging trains and get Vekoma to supply the new suspended trains they have with a retrack. Could probably replicate the swinging elements with clever banking design.
Tbh I'd rather they just get rid of the swinging trains and get Vekoma to supply the new suspended trains they have with a retrack. Could probably replicate the swinging elements with clever banking design.
Blackhole_Sun
TS Member
Well isn’t the track the last thing to technically “break”? The last major issue was the trains I believe in October which reduced it to a one train service.
It’s had a hard season carrying that park. It deserves some maintenance in the off season like all other major coasters.
Should it need a retrack I hope it gets it! Alton know it’s worth investing in your best ride. If they removed Vampire people would not go.
Tim
TS Member
Pure speculation here, but what if Vampire isn't the problem, and it's Gruffalo that's shut them both down? Say for example if there's been a water leak in Gruffalo it could have made Vampire inoperable.
More likely it is the other way around and they need Gruffalo out to work on something in the Vampires station. Of the two rides its more likley to have a problem, however both are getting quite old now, despite Bubbleworks/Gruffalos refurbishment. Can't be a coincidence that both rides have been removed from the lineup together.
Matt.GC
TS Member
Ageing Vampire causing availability issues, Scorpion Express potentially giving up the ghost, Enterprise brown bread, Blade surely due to follow. Ramses being replaced with the cheapest low capacity drop tower they could find, funfair flats desperately being hired in to Towers to prop up it's insufficient and dwindling ride lineup. Just goes to show that years of underinvestment in these parks are hitting hard now.
Poisson
TS Member
But now they must see the opportunity that is arising. You have years of easy marketing by installing a replacement flat a year. Something they need to grab by the scruff of the neck.
Skyscraper
TS Member
The online consultation opens here in two days time;
www.cwoa-consultation.com
Welcome | CWoAR Future Plans
Welcome to this consultation providing an update on current and new emerging projects at Chessington World of Adventures Resort (CWoAR).
Enter Valhalla
TS Member
You’re forgetting 10 years of basically nothing happening at Thorpe Park. Otherwise though, I couldn’t agree more.
Let’s hope that this new CEO really shakes this up and makes some positive changes at Merlin.
Jb85
TS Member
Agreed. From what I’ve read about him it seems growth via investment is his ethos. We can only hope
Trooper Looper
TS Member
The real question is, is he Passionate about Theme Parks??
QTXAdsy
TS Member
He might allow for the three Merlin parks to have more control as that since he hasn't done anything with theme parks, it might be more easier to allow the parks having more devolved power over what they want on the park while Merlin would just need to set out budgets for the parks but obviously stay out of creative choices.
At least that is the bestcase scenario...really have no clue what we might see.