Thorpe Park - THE SWARM News blog

Testing begins

2012-01-17T04:24:00.000-08:00

This morning, THORPE PARK uploaded a video of THE SWARM undergoing its first test run!

The winged train certainly travels at quite a speed as it coasts from the first drop/dive into the massive Zero G roll! It certainly is a very graceful, smooth and fast ride.

Since this is only The Swarm's first flight, obviously the ride would not be as fast as it will be after it opens! After a more test runs, the ride will warm up and begin to travel at a higher speed, the weather was not perfect on the first test run which is another reason why it does travel rather slowly through the second half of the ride.

We hope to video The Swarm testing one day before it opens to the public!

The video of the ride testing can be found here!

Also, some pictures of the ride testing can be found here

Trains now on-site!

2012-01-10T14:44:00.001-08:00

Today, THORPE PARK unveiled the trains for their new rollercoaster 'THE SWARM'!

The ride vehicles are themed to a a swarm of alien monsters and look very intimidating!

These are easily the best themed trains we have ever seen in the UK, the attention to detail on this new ride blows every other themed ride in the UK out the water!

Another interesting thing to mention is that these trains have LEDs!

Below are pictures which were released by THORPE PARK, all credit goes to them! More can be found here

Also, plenty of other pictures of the station building here.

2011-11-20T16:38:00.001-08:00

The time-lapse footage of THE SWARM being constructed can be found here.

Track is now completed and work on the theming is well underway!

Construction update - 01/11/2011

2011-11-01T16:26:00.000-07:00

The following pictures were sent into us by Andy Freeman and Tay Jeffereries Hassan. If you would like to use these pictures, please give credit to the people named above and link back to this update!

Construction update - 11/10/2011

2011-10-11T16:23:00.000-07:00

Click here to return to the Roller Coaster XTREME home page

Today we visited the Nations Thrill Capital and took plenty of pictures of THE SWARM under construction!

SUNDAY (Credit goes to Michael Denton /Roller Coaster XTREME)...
The lift hill has now begun to go up along with the second inversion, the supports for that are already towering over the park!

TODAY (Credit goes to Max Aaron /Roller Coaster XTREME)...
The lift hill has now begun to go up along with the second inversion, the supports for that are already towering over the park!

A video of the engineering steps being lifted

MORE PICTURES AND FOOTAGE WILL BE UPLOADED THURSDAY EVENING!

Also, The official THE SWARM website has launched!

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE 08/09/2011

2011-09-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

Today we visited THORPE PARK and took many pictures of THE SWARM building site

The station building is being erected at a rapid pace (you can see how far it progressed today in this update) and track and supports are onsite! Station track has been erected and it is believed that track and supports will be going up during the weekend.

This update was brought to you by Roller Coaster XTREME! Our news update will be online by Sunday at the latest! Feel free to link this update on other websites. If you wish to use some of our pictures on another site, feel free to do so but you must give us credit, post a link to this update and take a maximum of four pictures.

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We recorded some footage, these must not be used without our permission!

Lift hill construction?

2011-09-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

Members of various internet forums confirm that construction has begun on the lift hill. We will be at THORPE PARK tomorrow so we will come back with plenty of pictures of track being erected.. if rumours are true.

The Swarm News, Series Continues!

2011-09-07T08:20:00.000-07:00

Our news series is back and even better than ever!

We will keep you updated every week with regular 'The Swarm' construction and news updates until ride opening!

The next episode will be on line this Friday!

Stay tuned,

The Roller Coaster XTREME Team!

Construction..

2011-09-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

Construction may not appear to be progressing that rapidly, but footers appear to be completed and vertical construction starts this week!

We will be visiting THORPE PARK tomorrow, we will post a big construction update when we return!

CONSTRUCTION!

2011-07-03T16:21:00.000-07:00

Construction is now in full swing on the LC12 site!

Groundwork is in full swing over at the LC12 construction site with workers preparing the ground for the track/supports and the theming.

A giant drill and lots of diggers are currently on site, and the coaster's foundations are currently being laid! Trenches are being dug for the footers to go in.

A lot of work has happened over the past few weeks so we expect footers to go in fairly soon. Track is expected to up in September.

LC12 track?

2011-05-15T13:56:00.001-07:00

SOME PICTURES OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE LC12 TRACK AT THE B&M PLANT IN ATLANTA HAVE BEEN POSTED ON SCREAMSCAPE AND MANIA HUB FORUMS.

The following pictures are (C) from Screamscape. More pictures can be found here

One of our fans sent in some pictures of the LC12 marketing round the park. These can be found below:

Viral videos

2011-05-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

THORPE PARK have released some new virals of LC12 with the actors to promote LC12!

The videos show the LC12 costume character, Les Coogan, warning visitors at the theme park about the impending threats that he believes will take place in 2012. So far, marketing is looking amazing. Alton

Towers did not go this far with Thirteen until their Halloween event Scarefest.

This really is a major campaign to get the ride noticed before it opens to the public in Spring 2012 so we can only assume that the marketing is going to improve as the ride continues to be developed.

Completely unexpected marketing from Thorpe Park, this is the first time they have go

ne this far with a marketing campaign, here's hoping that Thorpe Park will continue to keep up the great work with marketing LC12.

Click the links below to watch the videos!

Nuclear Disaster
Natural Disaster
Floods
Aliens

Also, speculation has arisen on what the project name could stand for. Since theLC Militant keeps mentioning the name Les Coogan this has caused enthusiasts to believe that LC12 stands for
Les Coogan 2012.
Could mean something completely irrelevant because SAW - The ride's project name, Project Dylan was named after the Creative Director ofMerlin Entertainments Candy Holland's cat, Dylan.

We should know exactly what LC12 means when it opens to the public.

THORPE PARK LC12 granted planning permission!

2011-03-31T17:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Wednesday 30th March, Runnymede Council granted THORPE PARK full planning consent to build their new 130 ft (or 127 ft to be precise) roller coaster codenamed LC12!

The ride will be located on the island opposite Stealth and Flying Fish and will feature four death defying inversions! The roller coaster will be manufactured by the ‘Rolls Royce’ of roller coasters Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) and will be their second and largest Wing rider coaster!

The theme is urban devastation to fit in with the 2012 apocalypse beliefs and has been researched heavily by the park. With some of the theme elements, including crashed aircrafts, having already drawn criticism from the British Airline and Pilot Association (BALPA) who branded it tasteless due to the theme park’s proximity to Heathrow Airport, Mike Vallis, Divisional Director at THORPE PARK, comments: “We’re absolutely ecstatic with the decision as we’re incredibly excited about the new ride. It is something that cannot be

Plane crash theming - click to view full size

found anywhere else in the country and the exceptional theme elements will enhance the experience. The whole project has been heavily researched and the results showed unequivocal support for the theme of urban

devastation.” The new rollercoaster is the first investment of THORPE PARK’s Medium Term Development plans that were also granted by the Council yesterday and marks a significant stage in THORPE PARK moving towards a short break destination, and ultimately becoming a resort positioning with a hotel proposal also in development.

So this is all brilliant news. Not only have plans for LC12 been granted permission, the other elements that form the MTDP (Medium Term Development Plan) have been granted, including the hotel! But THORPE PARK becoming a resortseems just a bit weird, they have one hotel planned but what about things like a mini golf course, water park, entertainment/shopping village or other resort features? We’ll find out in the next MTDP.

LC12 News episode 2

2011-02-14T07:20:00.001-08:00

Episode 3 coming soon!

LC12 Plans - an IN-DEPTH look

2011-02-14T07:08:00.000-08:00

Please note: the following pictures found in this update are copyright from their rightful owners.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Project LC12 is Thorpe Park's new roller coaster. Opening in 2012 it will be the second highest ride in the park. LC12 will be a B&M Wing coaster like Raptor opening at Gardaland but on a much larger scale!

Click on picture to enlarge

Image © Gardaland

The plans for LC12 are very impressive, detailing the amazing theming and the very unique ride layout.

Click on pictures to enlarge

The Wing - rider trains will climb the 126' ft lift hill, the train will the proceed into the first drop in the form of a dive loop. You will narrowly miss the giant wing of a huge full size replica of a Jumbo Jet and then proceed into the

100' ft Zero G roll!

The ride will then proceed into an inclined loop and then into a helix interacting with a crashed helicopter

After the Helix you make a turn into the remains of a Chapel where you will go through an intense heart-line roll!

After the heartline roll you will enter a break run and make a turn back into the station. Below more plans have been posted:

Station themed to ruined chapel

Queue entrance feature

On-ride Photo sales

Fire truck theming

Queue line fence theming

Retail locations

Themed toilets

Access bridge

Food/beverage outlet

Back view of layout

Retail unit

Overturned car

Interactive theming locations

View points

Few more plans of the layout and the location

More plans can be found here!

For more information on LC12 watch the second episode of our LC12 News series

LC12 Plans revealed!

2011-02-12T10:43:00.000-08:00

More plans can be found here scroll down until you find plans under 'Thorpe Park'

LC12 is a B&M!

2011-02-09T16:13:00.000-08:00

PRESS RELEASE FROM THORPE PARK

In line with THORPE PARK’s Medium Term Development Plan, application for full planning permission for a new rollercoaster in 2012 has been submitted to Runnymede Borough Council. This can be viewed on the Runnymede Borough Council website, www.runnymede.gov.uk (ref: RU.11/0101).
The German manufacturer Bolliger and Mabillard have been commissioned to build the unique new rollercoaster due to their consistent record of delivering extreme rides of the highest quality. Subject to planning permission, the ride will open in Spring 2012 and will be located on one of the new development islands adjacent to Stealth, measuring just under 40 metres in height. Mike Vallis, Divisional Director, comments:“THORPE PARK has developed significantly over the last decade to create the ‘must do’ destination for thrill seekers in the UK. We have focussed our investment on delivering exciting new rides and attractions including SAW – The Ride: the world’s first horror movie themed rollercoaster, Stealth: one of Europe’s fastest rollercoasters, Colossus: the world’s first 10 looping rollercoaster and Nemesis Inferno the 4.5 G-force experience.
This new development for 2012 will further add to the Park’s impressive ride portfolio and firmly establish the THORPE PARK as the nation’s Thrill Capital with a wide range of adrenaline pumping rides.”

This is great news. This will be the first B&M at a UK theme park for NINE YEARS when it opens! Although B&M are Swiss and not German.