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Thorpe Park: General Discussion
owenstreet7
TS Member
That better not be a backwards seat and if it is, don't cut single riderI really hope they donāt whack a backwards seat on Hyperiaā¦ the back is brilliant as is!

I'd be worried about the capacity if it's backwards seat as one car is two rows.
It would cut capacity for Hyperia by 1/5 and increase the queues for their most popular rollercoaster.
I'm worried single rider will go rather than using the exit because it's Merlin and money count over experience over there.



Especially if backwards seat is an upcharge.
Bowser
TS Member
That better not be a backwards seat and if it is, don't cut single rider
I'd be worried about the capacity if it's backwards seat as one car is two rows.
It would cut capacity for Hyperia by 1/5 and increase the queues for their most popular rollercoaster.
I'm worried single rider will go rather than using the exit because it's Merlin and money count over experience over there.
Especially if backwards seat is an upcharge.
Have Merlin ever done an upcharge within an existing ride?
I can't see how it would work in 2025 as you'd still have to offer it to non-ambulant RAP users which would be a logistical nightmare on a ride that already has 4 queues. Plus surely if they were planning this so soon it would have been accommodated in the original plans rather than bunging it on 6 months later.
Expect it's a much more innocent explanation.
owenstreet7
TS Member
I'm hoping it's something else and more practical to the ride's operation i.e. parts than a backwards or a spinning seat.Have Merlin ever done an upcharge within an existing ride?
I can't see how it would work in 2025 as you'd still have to offer it to non-ambulant RAP users which would be a logistical nightmare on a ride that already has 4 queues. Plus surely if they were planning this so soon it would have been accommodated in the original plans rather than bunging it on 6 months later.
Expect it's a much more innocent explanation.
I can't see a way of it working unless either one side of the exit path is used to create a dedicated queue or that single rider queue is cut in favour of such a queue.
I think it would've been incorporated into the plans originally if this was the case (unless Merlin intended for that single rider line to eventually become the "find your fearless backwards" queue.
I'm hoping it certainly isn't a backwards queue
flyingguitar
TS Member
I think it is also important to remember that rides will undergo NDT where some important parts may be shipped off to get NDT to ensure it is still in good condition, this could be a part that has undergone NTD to do with the rear
Stuie
TS Member
If that really is a backwards seat, I would be slightly surprised since the backwards seats on The Swarm between 2013 and 2015 didn't seem to be received well.
That's what I just thought... not like it went amazingly well before so why do it again?
Islander
TS Member
NDT will be done either in situ, or off the ride but on siteI think it is also important to remember that rides will undergo NDT where some important parts may be shipped off to get NDT to ensure it is still in good condition, this could be a part that has undergone NTD to do with the rear
flyingguitar
TS Member
ah is that how merlin do it, I am aware some places will get the important parts of their trains (chassis, etc) and send them out for NDT and then the are parts sent back, and quite a few will ship them around the park to a central workshop (on site) for easier access and to help re apply paint that was stripped during NDTNDT will be done either in situ, or off the ride but on site
dazza4783
TS Member
I can see it happening. It enables them to advertise it as a new attraction still, at a fraction of the cost of an actual new ride. Whether it is well received or not. But I can see it being a far better experience than The Swarm backwards was, and I may be in the minority here but I quite liked The Swarm backwards. I do fear that the single rider queue will be what makes way for the backwards queue given that it enters the station at that exact spot.If that really is a backwards seat, I would be slightly surprised since the backwards seats on The Swarm between 2013 and 2015 didn't seem to be received well.
Martin
TS Member
They shouldn't need a new gimmick to advertise it already considering the profile of the ride. I know they also can't do a Blackpool and advertise it as new for like 6 seasons either but if people have already forgotten/aren't interested in Hyperia it's purely down to their own failures marketting it first time round or getting it working
sillyrooster
TS Member
Silkstone's video of it testing for the first time this year doesn't have a backwards seat so it seems we're safe (for now).
Mykeprime
TS Member
Looks like they've been adding some turf around the entrance. Bland, but at least it looks a lot cleaner than last years mud/chippingsSilkstone's video of it testing for the first time this year doesn't have a backwards seat so it seems we're safe (for now).
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Plastic Person
TS Member
Looks like they've been adding some terf around the entrance.
The gender-neutral toilets in Old Town suddenly have a lot to answer for.