I'd like to think RMT has a future at AT. It's one of only a handful of rides that appeals to everyone - young kids, older kids, adults, even over 60s (I rode it recently with my dad!). As powered coasters go it's a pretty fun one, likely thanks to the hand John Wardley had in designing the layout.
I'm worried about the future of Katanga Canyon though. The river rapids is in danger of becoming a white elephant because the HSE have basically made it inoperable; in it's current form with all the aggressive signage it is not enjoyable. And that's a worry for RMT as well, because it was designed around interactions with CRR and falls a bit flat otherwise (try riding it at 10am before CRR has any water in it - it's just looking at a mud channel; depressing).
AT have a history of creating themed areas and then changing things around so much that the original theme no longer makes sense - look what happened with Ug Land. Once Corkscrew was removed a number of the smaller rides were moved elsewhere and then Rita was added, completely diluting the prehistoric theme. Attempting to retheme the area to Dark Forest has, according to consensus, been a total failure. So my concern is that CRR will go and be replaced by either nothing or something not in keeping with the KC theme and we will lose yet another themed area from the park. RMT will then make less sense as a ride and people will just stop bothering with it.
I am worried about that too, but surely they could replace CRR with a new rapids? (which has the same interaction in the tunnel with RMT as CRR always has).So my concern is that CRR will go and be replaced by either nothing or something not in keeping with the KC theme
A new rapids would still be subject to the same HSE guidance so wouldn't solve anything. New boats similar to Drayton Manor have done might help though.I am worried about that too, but surely they could replace CRR with a new rapids? (which has the same interaction in the tunnel with RMT as CRR always has).
Drayton Manor's rapids seemed fine to me. Not particularly wet but good fun nonetheless.A new rapids would still be subject to the same HSE guidance so wouldn't solve anything. New boats similar to Drayton Manor have done might help though.
Yeah it's a single-position shared lap bar. I could see a new train with individual ratcheting lap restraints like Thorpe's Flying Fish in the future.I suspect at some point, someone will take issue with the way those restraints are configured.
The configuration doesn't work nicely for securing a large adult and a small kid in the same seat.
Well, quite ...Meanwhile, Phoenix at Knoebels....!
The fact that it is consistently popular will probably keep it running for a while.I think the ride has a good future ahead. I bet it'll be at the park for another 20 years. It never has a short queue, nor a long queue, but it's always consistent.
And they still sell Merchandise of it. Heck, they even do RMT socks with "CHOO CHOO" written all over XDThe fact that it is consistently popular will probably keep it running for a while.
The merchandise is quite recent. It’s not that they still sell, more that staff recently made choo choo the rides catchphrase and AT decided it was worth printing on a T-shirt.And they still sell Merchandise of it. Heck, they even do RMT socks with "CHOO CHOO" written all over XD