TraX

Indeed there was! The ride opened late just after 2:00pm after only being handed over to the park from S&S moments before. A laminated sign was later put up at admissions thanking guests for their understanding of the technical problems and 'teething problems' during ride 'previews'. The queueline was also held outside of the main queue path, as the park tried to avoid guest complaints whilst the shut downs caused inevitable queueline closures.I expect the ride opening later than expected was the reason that the banners and flags across the park were never put up. The messages on them were: 'You're 135 metres away from the ultimate Rush' (there were several of these counting down, the closer to the attraction you got), 'Rush; don't go home without one' etc.. There were also sweets handed out, rock peice sweets, with Rush written through them.It had a rocky start, and as an additional ride to Slammer that year, it's suprising that it has become the most popular of the two!

Only did a couple of cycles before the dreaded S&S curse took full hold, but was a great little event. Was even meant to be bigger too, with flags and banners over the bridge, that were sadly never put up.(As ever, credit where it's due if you re-use these else where, please)

Again, as things are a little quiet around here; here's a little look back at 2005 and the build up to Rush's opening

I tweeted these and a couple of others the other day, and as things are a little quiet here this week, thought that I should share them here too. A little look back at some of the press shots from our favorite love to hate family coaster, before it disappeared behind a scaffolding mess last season.

Aren't they moving the one from Chessington? :ph34r:In regards to catching a glimpse of the trains on Thorpe's advent, they're obviously short of anything too interesting. I don't much care for rubbish photoshopped santa's on a ride. Well, unless it's the Swarm train, at least..

I honestly thought with noise complaints from both Spinball and Oblivion, that area would have been completly off bounds anyway..

If indeed this is the spot, fingers crossed that it will be a terrain hugger, as anything BIG is going to ruin Oblivion. Although that also depends on which direction the ride will go (hopefully across that blank section of path between Spinball and X-Sector).The Ropers are going to LOVE a new application on that side of the park, 'ain't they?

Certainlly Tidal Wave and Pirates 4D/Detonator area would have been great! Also, launch tunnel for Colossus V0.1 anyone?Really good to go back through all these, a shame they don't seem to have the drawings for the older stuff.

Some GREAT bits there.. TIDAL WAVE? Hello!! Suddenly, the odd Detonator pirate theme becomes clear!Sadly, can't seem to view the older applications as X or even Loggers Leap

Thorpe Park have said themselves that they are a 'thrill island' and not a 'theme park'. Although some areas still exist, they aren't going in that direction. The areas have also long gone from the gate map too. I'm afraid that your dreams are already shattered!

I think we can expect something really unique to fit the parks brand and operated by Merlin too as Marc has said, much more inline with the Towers and Lego and certainlly not generic.Slightly off topic, but doesn't Chessington's hotel become fully under Merlin's wing next year? I wonder if that will bring many changes?

OOh, we haven't mentioned the rotating baggage carousels that Raptor had. I'm not sure if they were automatic like the one that iSpeed uses, but I did enjoy the baggage idea, although I expect unstaffed it has potential to be a nightmare!

Thorpe Park are fully aware of them and their stunts in the other Merlin parks, but what can they do apart from keep a close eye... when they're there at least!!

Didn't quite know exactly where to put this; We've seen them before at both Chessington and Alton Towers and not sure if this has already been seen, but check out Silent UK's photo's at Thorpe Park, from 2009. I recon they're due another trip.. ;)If you don't already know, Silent UK are into 'Urban Exploration', which is basicly trespassing, but the pictures they take are pretty unique and defenitly worth a look!Trespass here!

I don't think the ride will offer single riders, although perhaps planned. A front row seat line, however..

Well, I would list the reasons, but hey.. this topic is on the Swarm.

Didn't quite know where to put this, but some pleasing concept art Thorpe Park PitchBuild awareness and fuel excitement for Thorpe Park’s new roller coaster “The Swarm”Conspiracy Alternate Reality Game (ARG)By following clues and piecing together a conspiracy story from existing ‘real world’ and UCG content, users can discover the truth behind the conspiracy and earn the chance to be one of the first to experience the new “Swarm” ride.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA and then it opened. Well, a few odd days here and there around the 'opening' date..I'm confident that The Swarm won't suffer from such an all time enthusiast fail.

JoshC, very simple answer; stay out of this topic. easy!

Whlst what's being said on Coasterforce is old news in regard to Thorpe Park LOVING a ruined theme as it will never need upkeep, I think it's silly not to aknowledge that this project is the best the UK has seen in a long time.

Question is; are we all being seduced by the fact that the ride is from B&M? Raptor rides and looks so damn sexy, so we already have a great impression of the ride type.. Thing is, if we had the Intamin version instead like Furious Headache at Port Aventura, AND it was themed as heavily as what we've seen from this so far...Would we still be as excited?

Opening day is going to be SO RAMMED, well definitely the Swarm island at least.Most certainlly the best looking thing the park have ever installed. It doesn't really matter the dreadful gimmicky 'stories' that will no doubt flood from the marketing department soon enough, with something that looks this good, I can turn a blind eye.. ;)I must also say well done to Thorpe for keeping the photos and updates coming during the closed season.

Never had any problems, although this year was a nightmare, although that was down to thunderstorms passing by and hanging around us all day!

I bet the eyes are indeed LED, and isn't it already known that the trains are exactly the same as Raptor, only different in colour?

I think that everyone should just chill! I'm sure that the Swarm will have more ride effects than anything else at Thorpe. If they last beyond the summer season is a totally different matter, but I'm very confident, regardless what kinda aircraft this is, that they will pull it off.