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Resort's £8m whiteknuckle ride
After months of speculation, bosses at Blackpool Pleasure Beach have revealed the latest whiteknuckle ride for the resort
The new £8million rollercoaster, called Infusion, will be unveiled in spring in time for the theme park's new season, and it is hoped the ride will help boost business.
It replaces the Pleasure Beach's popular Log Flume which was retired in September after almost 40 years.
Details of the new high speed roller comes just months after bosses at the Pleasure Beach, which attracts more than six million people a year, revealed the company was undergoing a "restructuring" period as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
The new 200ft animal', which will feature death-defying loops on twisted tracks and incorporate water effects, will be using parts of the Traumatizer ride from the axed Southport Pleasureland, also owned by the Thompson family, which closed overnight in early September.
At the time it was reported in the Citizen that the £5m Southport ride, built in 1999, could come to Blackpool.
The new blue and turquoise Infusion ride has been designed by the Dutch Vekoma group, creators of the original Traumatizer.
Pleasure Beach's deputy managing director, Nick Thompson, said: "There have been some elements of the Traumatizer taken from Southport and incorporated into the ride, there is a little similarity between the two rides."
Billed as featuring "five incredible loops and rolls, a looming lake glittering below, a deliciously wicked double line twist and awesome water effects all in one cool suspended looping coaster," Infusion will add to the amusement park's other whiteknuckle rides including the Iron Brew Revolution, opened in 1979, the Pepsi Max Big One, unveiled in 1994, the Ice Blast, opened in 1998, and the Valhalla from 2000.
Mr Thompson said: "The ride will be above the lake used for the Log Flume and will be one of the first ever rides to be based totally above water. It will have some water effects including a few cascading walls of water.
"We have been looking to add a really good water ride to the park as all our visitors seem to love water based rides, they're just fascinated by them."
Jane Seddon, director of tourism for Blackpool, said it was fantastic news that the Pleasure Beach had revealed the new ride at the end of the 2006 season. She said bosses are giving themselves time to use it as a unique feature to attract crowds next year.
She added: "We are delighted that Blackpool Pleasure Beach continue to invest in Blackpool and we look forward to testing the new ride next year."
A spokesman for Blackpool Pleasure Beach confirmed a consultation is still on-going between management and staff with regard to the future of the company.
1:01pm Thursday 23rd November 2006
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CommentPosted by: Matt on 6:16pm Thu 23 Nov 06
That is the traumatizer painted light blue!!!
That is the traumatizer painted light blue!!!
Posted by: Richie on 6:58pm Thu 23 Nov 06
[quote]That is the traumatizer painted light blue!!![/quote]
I do hope not, Traumatizer was a terrible ride.
That is the traumatizer painted light blue!!!
I do hope not, Traumatizer was a terrible ride.
Posted by: peter on 8:07pm Thu 23 Nov 06
Cheap publicity stunt from blackpool pleasure beach.Repaint second hand ride and pass it off as new dont be fooled!
Cheap publicity stunt from blackpool pleasure beach.Repaint second hand ride and pass it off as new dont be fooled!
Posted by: Iain on 8:42pm Thu 30 Nov 06
And it's 109' tall, not 200'...
And it's 109' tall, not 200'...
Posted by: Ez on 3:54pm Fri 1 Dec 06
I dont get what they are doing classing this as a new ride when in fact it isn't?! I hope BPB read this and see just how stupid they are. Its the same Traumatizer just rebranded!
I wouldn't pay 8 million for a relocation.
I dont get what they are doing classing this as a new ride when in fact it isn't?! I hope BPB read this and see just how stupid they are. Its the same Traumatizer just rebranded!
I wouldn't pay 8 million for a relocation.
Posted by: IIjn on 7:56pm Fri 1 Dec 06
what a load of rubbish, this website cant even get the facts right. Its not a new ride and its not 200ft
what a load of rubbish, this website cant even get the facts right. Its not a new ride and its not 200ft
Posted by: Tim on 10:08pm Sat 2 Dec 06
I hate to say it, but poor Geoffrey Thompson is spinning in his grave... a bloody Vekoma SLC??? Gah! For that same 8 mille, they could have got themselves a brand spanking new water coaster, or better, A B&M invert, using the water theming.
I hate to say it, but poor Geoffrey Thompson is spinning in his grave... a bloody Vekoma SLC??? Gah! For that same 8 mille, they could have got themselves a brand spanking new water coaster, or better, A B&M invert, using the water theming.
Posted by: shirl on 2:41am Sun 3 Dec 06
well we are the original infusion and have been open in blackpool for over a yr now!!!!!!!!!!
well we are the original infusion and have been open in blackpool for over a yr now!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Cal on 4:28pm Mon 4 Dec 06
"There have been some elements of the Traumatizer taken from Southport and incorporated into the ride, there is a little similarity between the two rides."
No sh*t Sherlock, it's the exact same ride! You can take a knackered old Vekom SLC and add some water effects but it's still a knackered old Vekoma SLC at the end of the day.
"There have been some elements of the Traumatizer taken from Southport and incorporated into the ride, there is a little similarity between the two rides."
No sh*t Sherlock, it's the exact same ride! You can take a knackered old Vekom SLC and add some water effects but it's still a knackered old Vekoma SLC at the end of the day.
Posted by: Richard on 8:39pm Mon 4 Dec 06
how thick do they think we are, talk about adding insult to injury.
how thick do they think we are, talk about adding insult to injury.
Posted by: Bruno on 10:16pm Mon 4 Dec 06
the end is nigh, get your rides in now before it becomes another shopping mal!
the end is nigh, get your rides in now before it becomes another shopping mal!
Posted by: Jim on 9:14am Tue 5 Dec 06
Not so much Infusion as CON-fusion... Another nail in the Pleasure Beach coffin from Blunder Woman and the Boy Racer...
Not so much Infusion as CON-fusion... Another nail in the Pleasure Beach coffin from Blunder Woman and the Boy Racer...
Posted by: iain on 8:54pm Tue 5 Dec 06
What a load of c*** you only have to look at the history page of Pleasureland southports website,were they say earlier this year how they will invest much more money in years to come!!! They are a set of lying *******!!!And infusion is traumatizer END OF STORY.The way Amanda and co treat people is lower than pond life
What a load of c*** you only have to look at the history page of Pleasureland southports website,were they say earlier this year how they will invest much more money in years to come!!! They are a set of lying *******!!!And infusion is traumatizer END OF STORY.The way Amanda and co treat people is lower than pond life
Posted by: Dave on 9:38pm Tue 5 Dec 06
Never in a million years would Geoffrey Thompson, had let Pleasureland close and pass the traumatizer of as new ride for blackpool!
Never in a million years would Geoffrey Thompson, had let Pleasureland close and pass the traumatizer of as new ride for blackpool!
Posted by: Peter Roach on 12:45am Wed 6 Dec 06
[bold]Hang on![/bold]
This [bold]"new £8million Rollercoaster"[/bold] only cost £5Million as the Traimatizer in 2000.
[bold]Yes, it is SIX Years Old[/bold]
Must be an expensive paint job!
Hang on!
This
"new £8million Rollercoaster" only cost £5Million as the Traimatizer in 2000.
Yes, it is SIX Years Old
Must be an expensive paint job!
Posted by: Steve CedarPoint on 12:10am Tue 9 Jan 07
What a missed opportunity. A second hand 'off the shelf' Vekoma. BPB really should be entertaining the likes of Intamin or B&M who could have built something which could have been world class. BPB have fallen way behind with this cheap move.
What a missed opportunity. A second hand 'off the shelf' Vekoma. BPB really should be entertaining the likes of Intamin or B&M who could have built something which could have been world class. BPB have fallen way behind with this cheap move.
Posted by: JP, Bury on 3:49pm Mon 12 Mar 07
8mil for what exactly? for 8 mil you could buy southport let alone the **** traumatiser
8mil for what exactly? for 8 mil you could buy southport let alone the **** traumatiser
Posted by: JP on 4:17pm Mon 12 Mar 07
BPB is a nice museum and thats about it, lets be honest. Its about time we had a proper theme park like they have in every other western country. Spending an afternoon on the worlds first roller coaster and big dipper (actually called the Roller Coaster & The Big Dipper), may be a pleasant nostalgic excercise, but its not going to make me go back. Likewise, filling the park with mediocre steel 'white knuckle' rides knocked together from bits of old rides from other sickeningly miserable northern English seaside towns is not going to have me running back for more. I'd much rather go to Alton Towers, if not just for the cablecar ride. Sorry BPB, I like Valhalla if it makes any difference but not enough to make me ****. Then again my bird cant even make me do that anymore
BPB is a nice museum and thats about it, lets be honest. Its about time we had a proper theme park like they have in every other western country. Spending an afternoon on the worlds first roller coaster and big dipper (actually called the Roller Coaster & The Big Dipper), may be a pleasant nostalgic excercise, but its not going to make me go back. Likewise, filling the park with mediocre steel 'white knuckle' rides knocked together from bits of old rides from other sickeningly miserable northern English seaside towns is not going to have me running back for more. I'd much rather go to Alton Towers, if not just for the cablecar ride. Sorry BPB, I like Valhalla if it makes any difference but not enough to make me ****. Then again my bird cant even make me do that anymore
Posted by: Natillie Foulser, Fleetwood on 10:37am Thu 3 May 07
So what if its a copy its still good and now we have it at the pleasure beach! N so what if it aint 200ft tis still good stop being so stuck up people! :P xxx luv me **** lol
So what if its a copy its still good and now we have it at the pleasure beach! N so what if it aint 200ft tis still good stop being so stuck up people! :P xxx luv me **** lol
Posted by: Stephen Richards, Prescot on 11:39pm Thu 3 May 07
Anyone been to Southport since the Infusion opened? everything else is there ..except the Traumatiser. I think someones pinched it :)
Anyone been to Southport since the Infusion opened? everything else is there ..except the Traumatiser. I think someones pinched it :)
Posted by: ste, bolton on 2:07pm Thu 28 Jun 07
once you have been to florida and rode the best ride around blackpool is a joke.enough said.
lol.
once you have been to florida and rode the best ride around blackpool is a joke.enough said.
lol.
Posted by: Mike, Wigan on 10:40pm Mon 24 Mar 08
Saw the Infusion for the first time last week. Deary me, what a rip off. Hope you guys changed the nuts for new ones when you ripped down the Southport Traumatizer. Sorry guys but theres more than a few bits incorporated into the new from old. As for what they did to Southport fair, I think that is definately back handed. They bought it from a family that had been running it for years. Squeezed as many pennies out of what originally made Southport a tourist attraction. Saw things where getting tight so then decided to charge everyone for just walking round. That put the nail in the coffin. Guess what?!! Now they intend to start charging everybody from next year 5 quid to walk round Blackpool fair. Oh forgot to mention you might get a free ride on a merry go round for that. At least Southport had its shopping status to keep it bolstered. Don't thing Blackpool's rock shops are going to have the same effect. No digs at the Blackpool townsfolk though, I'm sure there are plenty other things to do but I can't help hearing the death bell ringing. Look what happened to the likes of New Brighton years ago. Modernisation may be a long time coming.
Saw the Infusion for the first time last week. Deary me, what a rip off. Hope you guys changed the nuts for new ones when you ripped down the Southport Traumatizer. Sorry guys but theres more than a few bits incorporated into the new from old. As for what they did to Southport fair, I think that is definately back handed. They bought it from a family that had been running it for years. Squeezed as many pennies out of what originally made Southport a tourist attraction. Saw things where getting tight so then decided to charge everyone for just walking round. That put the nail in the coffin. Guess what?!! Now they intend to start charging everybody from next year 5 quid to walk round Blackpool fair. Oh forgot to mention you might get a free ride on a merry go round for that. At least Southport had its shopping status to keep it bolstered. Don't thing Blackpool's rock shops are going to have the same effect. No digs at the Blackpool townsfolk though, I'm sure there are plenty other things to do but I can't help hearing the death bell ringing. Look what happened to the likes of New Brighton years ago. Modernisation may be a long time coming.
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