X (roller coaster)

See X2 (roller coaster) for the steel roller coaster formerly known as X operating at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, USA.

X (formerly known as X:\ No Way Out) is an indoor roller coaster located at Thorpe Park, England. It was the park's first non-powered roller-coaster. It is themed around a rave and has the strapline "Ride on a wave of light and sound".^[1]

The roller coaster combines a variety of lights, lasers and music with a completely indoor ride circuit, featured inside a large blue and terracotta pyramid structure.

History

The ride opened as X:\ No Way Out on March 23, 1996 as Thorpe Park's first non-powered roller coaster. It was marketed as the "world's first backwards roller coaster in the dark" and featured an elaborate queue system through multiple interactive themed rooms, such as a trommel tunnel, "decontamination" area and illusionary rooms. The ride's cyberpunk theme was drastically toned down by the early 2000s when most the interior rooms became disused, and many in-ride effects removed. In March 2013 the ride underwent further significant changes, which removed the remnants of the computer horror theme and shortened its name simply to 'X'. The trains were refurbished by Vekoma to now run forwards, to resolve the common issue of motion sickness. The addition of lighting and lasers from 2013 onwards removes the pitch black darkness that riders originally rode in.^[2] In the exit queue line, there was a 5 ft-long model of an Eveready AA battery labelled 'Thorpe Park Power Supply';^[3] this was removed in 2013.

The ride layout has also had many features removed since its opening. There was an on-ride photo camera which allowed riders to purchase their on-ride photo; this was removed in 2005. The lift hill of the ride had multi-coloured flashing LED light strips added in 2000; these were removed in 2013.^[4]

Ride experience

Riders enter the queue line inside the pyramid and proceed down a long and narrow corridor with neon lights and lasers in the ceiling. Loud dance music plays throughout the corridor. After turning a few corners, riders are asked to secure any loose belongings in a baggage area before proceeding into a large room with a segment of switchback queue line, which is put into operation on busier days. After queuing in this room, riders enter the station. After riders are seated and secured, the train exits the station into a tight right hand turn that leads up onto the lift hill. It is mandatory for both seats in a row to be occupied and single riders are not allowed.

After reaching the top of the hill, the train plummets down at speeds of up to 28 mph into various helixes and tight turns. While the ride negotiates its circuit, there are bright multi-coloured disco lights and laser effects that accompany the dance music heard in the queue-line, which is amplified inside the main ride area. The train arrives at an exit platform where riders disembark, before collecting their belongings and remembering outside.

Brake Runs

Throughout the ride, there are three mid-course brake runs. Originally, while the ride was X:\ No Way Out, these would stop the train for a few seconds while misters sprayed above the riders' heads (these were removed by 2013) and sound effects were played through speakers, to disorientate the riders. On the third brake run, the train moved backwards (although from a rider's point of view, it moved forwards, since the trains were reversed) by a few metres before being propelled forwards. Also on this third brake run, since the ride was refurbished in 2007, two of the robot mannequins from the old queue line were positioned on the brake run and lit up to give the riders a surprise. These were removed a few weeks into the 2013 season.^[5][6]

Nowadays, the brake runs simply allow the trains to run through the circuit without stopping.

References

External links

• X at Total Thorpe Park
• X:\No Way Out at ThemeParks-UK