Английская Википедия:Hyperia (roller coaster)

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Шаблон:Cleanup Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use British English Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Infobox roller coaster

Hyperia is a steel hypercoaster currently under construction at Thorpe Park in Chertsey, Surrey, England. As of March 2024, it is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the UK, however, while not open, The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is still the tallest operating roller coaster in the UK, with Stealth at Thorpe Park being the fastest. It is being built on the site formerly occupied by both Loggers Leap and Rocky Express, and is confirmedШаблон:Citation needed to open in Spring 2024.[1] The choice of the name "Hyperia" is a reference to the coaster's classification as a "hypercoaster", with the theming of the ride being inspired by the fearless goddess, Hyperia, aligning with the slogan "Find your fearless".[2]

History

Background

Loggers Leap opened in 1989 in the southern corner of the park, where it became the tallest log flume in the UK at the time of its debut. The ride operated through to 2015, but failed to open the following year and was addressed by park representatives as being "under redevelopment".[3] In February 2019, Thorpe Park confirmed that the attraction had been permanently closed, stating that "the area [which] Logger's Leap once dominated will be forming part of our long term development plans".[4] The rest of Old Town closed permanently in October 2021, which included the retirement of the park's Rocky Express and Timber Tug Boat.[5] Lumber Jump was rethemed as High Striker and relocated to the Amity area of the park for the 2022 season.[6]

Planning and Approval

In December 2021, Thorpe Park held a public consultation for their new coaster project in Old Town, releasing various renders and information online.[7] Codenamed Project Exodus, the proposed ride promised to become the tallest coaster in the UK at Шаблон:Convert tall, displacing The Big One's Шаблон:Convert height at Blackpool Pleasure Beach after nearly three decades.[8] Although a manufacturer was not listed at the time, park officials confirmed that they had conducted noise tests on "a similar ride in Turkey" (correctly assumed to be Mack Rides' Hyper Coaster at Land of Legends Theme Park).[9]

On 14 March 2022, Thorpe Park submitted an extensive planning application to Runnymede Borough Council detailing the proposed redevelopments of Old Town and Project Exodus' construction.[10][11] While the council eventually supported the park's development, sustained flood risk concerns from the Environment Agency prompted a project referral to the Secretary of State, who posed no objections to the project.[12] The council officially granted permission for Project Exodus on 2 November 2022, although the application's case officer would later criticise the Environment Agency's poor communication in the approval, stating that, "A rollercoaster which was partly in the functional flood plain was never going to be straight forward planning application but it should not have been as difficult as it was. We had a positive working relationship with both the planning agents, Lichfields UK and the applicant Thorpe Park. The difficulty was the lack of ability to engage effectively with the Environment Agency. I'm sure the level of service they are providing or lack thereof, is not how they want to deal with matters".[13][14]

Announcement

On 9 February 2023, Thorpe Park launched Club 236, a passholder competition to visit the park with the chance of being among the coaster's first public riders in 2024.[15] It was also confirmed that Project Exodus would be built by Mack Rides.[16] Further details were submitted to the council in May, depicting a pearl gold and papyrus white colour scheme – the structure's upper sections would be painted white in order to reduce its visual impact outside of the park.[17] In August 2023, it was announced that Project Exodus would not only be the UK's tallest coaster, but also the fastest.[18]

During the development phase, Merlin Entertainments – through the alias Vista Maxima Services Ltd – initially filed a trademark for ICARUS in March 2023. However, HYPERIA was submitted later on in August, and would go on to become the final name of the ride.[19] Hyperia was formally announced on 5 October 2023 and was accompanied by a promotional video that not only introduced the coaster's name but also presented its slogan, "Find your fearless." The video further provided a point-of-view (POV) glimpse into the ride experience.[20][21]

Construction timeline

Шаблон:Hidden begin

  • 2 November 2022; Project Exodus approved by Runnymede Borough Council.[13]
  • December 2022; Demolition begins on Logger's Leap and the Old Town area.[22]

Шаблон:Hidden end

Шаблон:Hidden begin

  • 9 January; Ride foundation cages delivered to the park.[23]
  • April; Construction crews mark out locations for the structure's foundations.[24]
  • 22 July; First delivery of coaster supports arrive from Mack Rides.[25]
  • 28 September; First coaster track pieces arrive at Thorpe Park.[26]
  • 9 October; First support structure pieces installed at the ride's outerbank.[27]
  • 11 October; First track sections lifted into place.[28]
  • 16 October; Steel framework begins to be set up for the coaster's station.[29]
  • 22 October; A separate set of steel framework begins going up for the maintenance shed.[30]

Шаблон:Hidden end

Шаблон:Hidden begin

  • 29 February; The first drop has been mostly completed, with only lift hill track pieces left to be installed.
  • 1 March; The last piece of track, a straight lift hill piece, has been delivered to the construction site.
  • 6 March; Hyperia's track is completed, making it the tallest roller coaster in the UK.

Шаблон:Hidden end

Characteristics

Plans released by the park suggest that the ride will be around Шаблон:Convert tall, reach a maximum speed of approximately Шаблон:Cvt, and feature two inversions.[31] The golden elements in the logo correspond to the golden and white track.

The ride will feature two inversions although on RCDB it is listed as three. The elements include a. Non Inverting Immellman, Barrel Roll Down Drop although the one featured on Hyperia enters the element unlike any previous implementation of this element around the world. And to many enthusiasts is considered a completely new element. And finally a Dive Loop. Hyperia will be the longest rollercoaster at Thorpe Park.

The roller coaster's speed is predicted to be roughly Шаблон:Cvt, dethroning Stealth (also at Thorpe Park), having a top speed of around Шаблон:Cvt, as the fastest roller coaster in the UK.[32]

References

Шаблон:Reflist

Шаблон:TP Coasters