Galactica's Future

[Mattie boy]

Let's hope it does at least get a good jet wash or two then, station and all track...

 

[GJMarshy]

Galactica has got longer than 5 years left though, there’s nowhere near the amount of stress on the track or supports that was the issue with Nemesis.

Galactica was supposed to receive a retheme this winter, but it was scrapped due to budgetary reasons. It was initially supposed to close in late September to start work early if my sources are correct (they usually are)

Probably longer than that before even minor track placements are required right? It's hardly a forceful ride, and as you say can't imagine the track sees anywhere near as much street as Nemesis, and it's 8 years younger. If Nemesis got by for 30 years before a re-track, Galactica (I hate calling it that, it's Air to me!) should have at least 40 years in it (aside from train/systems maintenance) That takes us to 2042.

That's 17 years to go before it's scrapped (Probably not worth the cost of re-tracking when a new ride(s) would likely give better returns) That's a good amount of time to play with, and plenty of time to significantly enhance the ride area and its theme. But I do hope it isn't given the Phalanx treatment! It risks becoming too "samey" especially with X sector also in existence...

Maybe make it its own designated area? Add a dark ride on the site of the car park behind along with some more shops, restaurants etc and you've got what *could* be Towers' showcase area. At this point I'd go full "retire-futurism" as in some of the original concept art (When the budget finally stretches!)

 

[Shaggy_Dog_]

Probably longer than that before even minor track placements are required right? It's hardly a forceful ride, and as you say can't imagine the track sees anywhere near as much street as Nemesis, and it's 8 years younger. If Nemesis got by for 30 years before a re-track, Galactica (I hate calling it that, it's Air to me!) should have at least 40 years in it (aside from train/systems maintenance) That takes us to 2042.

That's 17 years to go before it's scrapped (Probably not worth the cost of re-tracking when a new ride(s) would likely give better returns) That's a good amount of time to play with, and plenty of time to significantly enhance the ride area and its theme. But I do hope it isn't given the Phalanx treatment! It risks becoming too "samey" especially with X sector also in existence...

Just because the track might be good for another 17 years it doesn’t necessarily mean that Merlin will be wanting to run the ride for another 17 years. Operators can decide to pull the plug on a ride for a number of reasons and not just because a ride’s track has reached the end of its life. Sometimes operators just want to freshen things up and use part of the space that a ride is on for a new ride so an attraction gets sacrificed when it’s older but still would have had some life left in it.

 

[AltonLover123]

Galatica’s issue isn’t its track, it’s its trains. I’d love for them to get new ones, but I can’t see them dropping that much cash.

 

[jibbsie]

Probably longer than that before even minor track placements are required right? It's hardly a forceful ride, and as you say can't imagine the track sees anywhere near as much street as Nemesis, and it's 8 years younger. If Nemesis got by for 30 years before a re-track, Galactica (I hate calling it that, it's Air to me!) should have at least 40 years in it (aside from train/systems maintenance) That takes us to 2042.

That's 17 years to go before it's scrapped (Probably not worth the cost of re-tracking when a new ride(s) would likely give better returns) That's a good amount of time to play with, and plenty of time to significantly enhance the ride area and its theme. But I do hope it isn't given the Phalanx treatment! It risks becoming too "samey" especially with X sector also in existence...

Maybe make it its own designated area? Add a dark ride on the site of the car park behind along with some more shops, restaurants etc and you've got what *could* be Towers' showcase area. At this point I'd go full "retire-futurism" as in some of the original concept art (When the budget finally stretches!)

the ride may be less forcefull, but I would imagine given the complexity of the trains they may be heavier than nemesis, so some areas of the track may experience similar levels of stress (although B and M probably learned from nemesis and the loss of a car as gal is only 7 rows probably means it isn't a problem)
I think the thing that will mean Gal closes will be its control system / seats as they are not to reliable currently and often cause down time, and it may require a expensive refurbishment such as new trains (they are very expensive trains)

 

[EarthlyKnight27]

Galactica has got longer than 5 years left though, there’s nowhere near the amount of stress on the track or supports that was the issue with Nemesis.

Galactica was supposed to receive a retheme this winter, but it was scrapped due to budgetary reasons. It was initially supposed to close in late September to start work early if my sources are correct (they usually are)

What is it with Air/Galactica and the budget for rethemes always being slashed?

 

[Dhev123]

Galactica has got longer than 5 years left though, there’s nowhere near the amount of stress on the track or supports that was the issue with Nemesis.

Galactica was supposed to receive a retheme this winter, but it was scrapped due to budgetary reasons. It was initially supposed to close in late September to start work early if my sources are correct (they usually are)

I meant more if Alton were to get rid of it before it reaches the end of its technical service life in favour of a brand new ride. As others have said, say in the instance they need new trains but would rather fork out money for a new coaster.

Based on the general consensus, galactica would be the least missed alongside Rita if a major coaster were to be scrapped (although I am a Rita defender and think it’s top 3 ) so while Rita will probably run it’s course until maintenance becomes unattainable, I don’t know if they’d necessarily keep galactica going for an extra 15 odd years, but never say never

 

[Bowser]

Based on the general consensus, galactica would be the least missed alongside Rita if a major coaster were to be scrapped (although I am a Rita defender and think it’s top 3 ) so while Rita will probably run it’s course until maintenance becomes unattainable, I don’t know if they’d necessarily keep galactica going for an extra 15 odd years, but never say never

I’m not sure how we measure a rides popularity at AT, we certainly can’t use queue data due to the poor reliability but that being said, I don’t get the impression this is a general consensus outside of this forum as Galactica still appears to be a very popular attraction.

Would Hasten a guess more people would prefer to see Oblivion replaced of the big 7.

 

[Shaggy_Dog_]

Would Hasten a guess more people would prefer to see Oblivion replaced of the big 7.

Oblivion offers a unique experience though in the UK as it’s the only dive coaster here and it also takes up a very small plot of land. Rita on the other hand doesn’t feel as special and if it were replaced with a Taron style Intamin Blitz as a better ride I don’t think too many people would miss it.

 

[Bowser]

Oblivion offers a unique experience though in the UK as it’s the only dive coaster here and it also takes up a very small plot of land. Rita on the other hand doesn’t feel as special and if it were replaced with a Taron style Intamin Blitz as a better ride I don’t think too many people would miss it.

Well I don’t think people mind any ride being replaced if the new offering is an upgrade!

 

[Shaggy_Dog_]

Well I don’t think people mind any ride being replaced if the new offering is an upgrade!

I think a lot of visitors to Six Flags Great Adventure will still miss Kingda Ka for example even if its replacement ends up being a fantastic coaster. And you can imagine Towers indeed had removed Nemesis to build a new invert it would have been much mourned however great the new ride might have been. But Rita isn’t a classic like Nemesis of Kingda Ka, it’s a good ride but it’s not a classic.

Going back to Galactica though it’s a pity that we’ve not had another B&M Flying Coaster in Europe, so I guess it will be a loss whenever it goes.

 

[Bowser]

I think a lot of visitors to Six Flags Great Adventure will still miss Kingda Ka for example even if its replacement ends up being a fantastic coaster. And you can imagine Towers indeed had removed Nemesis to build a new invert it would have been much mourned however great the new ride might have been. But Rita isn’t a classic like Nemesis of Kingda Ka, it’s a good ride but it’s not a classic.

Going back to Galactica though it’s a pity that we’ve not had another B&M Flying Coaster in Europe, so I guess it will be a loss whenever it goes.

Very true!

That only reaffirms that Galactica is more valuable than both Rita and Oblivion imo. The latter has historical significance of course but of the prototypes at AT it’s the most dated ride at this point.

Galactica just needs some TLC.

At the time how did they get away with calling it the first flying coaster when Batwing opened a year earlier?

 

[Zeock]

At the time how did they get away with calling it the first flying coaster when Batwing opened a year earlier?

It was the first B&M flying coaster. Batwing wasn't the first anyway, since Skytrak opened before it.

 

[JamesP]

I followed the construction avidly, but it’s a long time ago now, however, I’m not sure they did refer to it as the first. The teaser posters around the construction site said ‘new generation’ so basically acknowledging it wasn’t the first. Photo from TowersAlmanac

 

[Bowser]

I followed the construction avidly, but it’s a long time ago now, but I’m not sure they did refer to it as the first. The teaser posters around the construction site said ‘new generation’ so basically acknowledging it wasn’t the first. Photo from TowersAlmanac

Ah fair enough. John Wardley said it was in the Blue Peter video and he surely knew of the Vekoma model but perhaps he was just being enthusiastic as he was hyping his project on TV.

 

[JamesP]

That’s why I was being a bit cautious, as I couldn’t remember if there was some instances of the ‘worlds first’ being thrown around for marketing, particularly when it was such a leap forward. But I just remembered the signs and info around the park didn’t make that claim (in contrast to going through the oblivion marketing 4 years earlier)

 

[Kraken27]

I suspect Merlin will be holding fire on any major ride removals / replacements / re-furbs (at all their UK Theme Parks) until it what is happening with the Universal Studios UK proposal / application.

It will likely take Universal 5 years to build & open the park (possibly longer). Merlin will get caned by Universal on ride quality / selection on offer - so Merlin will have a few years to try and get their house in order to compete - if they want to.

The price-point Universal will present to the market will be very different to Merlins, so that may work in their favour. We've just booked 1 day EPIC Universe tickets for a midweek day in mid-June... $160 each (and that was with the UoAP discount).

 

[Bowser]

The price-point Universal will present to the market will be very different to Merlins, so that may work in their favour. We've just booked 1 day EPIC Universe tickets for a midweek day in mid-June... $160 each (and that was with the UoAP discount).

I wouldn't be so sure. The parks in the rest of the world are much cheaper.

Universal Osaka, Singapore and Beijing are all between £40-55 for a day ticket.

Don't forget that:

- Mid June is peak in the US as it's already summer holidays for many.
- The US parks, particularly Orlando, operate on a multi-day model so tickets bought that way are far cheaper than what you've paid.

 

[owenstreet7]

I suspect Merlin will be holding fire on any major ride removals / replacements / re-furbs (at all their UK Theme Parks) until it what is happening with the Universal Studios UK proposal / application.

That is an interesting thought - I suspect that a lot of what Merlin are doing is in anticipation of Universal Studios UK being planned, the expansion of Paultons Park and Drayton Manor specifically, continuing competition from other theme parks and attractions in the UK and overseas.

Project Refresh and Renew at Chessington, I suspect is a response to Universal however isn't the only reason why it's happening.

 

[MaxPower]

Project Refresh and Renew at Chessington, I suspect is a response to Universal however isn't the only reason why it's happening.

Scorpion Express spontaneously combusting probably forced their hand somewhat for one of the projects I would say.