Universal Studios Singapore Discussion Thread

[DirkFunk]

My recollection is that stress fractures appeared in the ride (maybe even specifically the inverted side) and it has been shut down for safety concerns.

[Fire2box]

That was one of the first coaster('s?) I wanted to ride outside of America. Got to love dueling coasters more so ones with different track layouts.

[fraroc]

Any chance this coaster will ever re-open?

[The49er]

I've heard Universal Singapore has aimed to get open again sometime next year, and work has been progressing on the ride according to pictures from Luke and the Temple of Fun (a blog that I'm too lazy to link to).

[Canobie Coaster]

It's the Intamin cable's fault.

 

In all seriousness, I remember reading that higher than average vibrations were causing stresses to form in the seats. That was the initial closure that occurred shortly after the ride opened.

[skystopper]

Based on local news and pictures from Dejiki on the refurbishing of the ride, it is quite certain that the ride will definitely reopen - possibly by year end if nothing goes wrong*.

Battlestar Galactica ride may reopen this year

 

It is billed as the tallest duelling roller coaster in the world - but since last July, it has also probably been the quietest. But screaming crowds might return by the year end to Universal Studios Singapore's (USS) 42.5m-high Battlestar Galactica roller coaster if plans to resurrect the ride proceed without a hitch.

 

The Sunday Times has learnt that Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), the ride's owner, has submitted technical and support documents for the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) to review.

 

A spokesman for the authority confirmed that the review is being finalised. Once this is done, a Modification Permit would be issued so alterations can be made to the present ride. "BCA will allow the operation of the ride only after modifications are completed, safety checks are done and the Commissioner of Amusement Rides Safety is satisfied... with the safety measures in place," the spokesman added.

 

Sources within USS also said they have been told the ride would re-open before the end of this year.

 

Genting Group, which owns RWS and USS, revealed in its quarterly report in August that it was getting ready for the sci-fi-themed ride's relaunch. When contacted, an RWS spokesman confirmed this and said details would be announced at a later date.

 

The Battlestar Galactica, USS' star attraction, was closed on July 21 last year for what RWS called an "attraction review". It has not given further details on why it has been unavailable for more than a year.

 

The 90-second ride, which has sharp turns, vertical loops and can go as fast as 90kmh, got off to an inauspicious start when a seat fell off because of a technical glitch during a routine test in March 2010, just a week after USS opened. No one was hurt, but the ride's licence was suspended immediately.

 

When The Sunday Times visited last Wednesday, the doors to the two alternate tracks of the roller coaster were shut, but the tracks had received a fresh coat of paint. Park-goers have spotted other changes too.

 

"From September onwards, I started to see ride engineers on the track," said blogger Nicholas Yau, who has an annual pass to USS and visits the park every two to three weeks.

 

Malaysian student Ismail Ibrahim, 19, has fond memories of his first time on the roller coaster in June last year. When he visited the park again this week, he was disappointed to find the ride closed. "I can still remember the people screaming," he said.

 

From: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/battlestar-galatica-ride-may-reopen-year-20141012

[kidcoaster 2]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobile/singapore/battlestar-galactica-ride/1452136.html?cid=FBSG

 

An interesting video of the ride testing went up. If you look close you can see new 2 across seating trains.

[SharkTums]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobile/singapore/battlestar-galactica-ride/1452136.html?cid=FBSG

 

An interesting video of the ride testing went up. If you look close you can see new 2 across seating trains.

 

New credit if you've been on it before!?!?

[Garet]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobile/singapore/battlestar-galactica-ride/1452136.html?cid=FBSG

 

An interesting video of the ride testing went up. If you look close you can see new 2 across seating trains.

 

New credit if you've been on it before!?!?

 

So that's 5 Jeff Johnson credits when it re-opens?

 

1) Human original open restraints

2) Human vest restraints

3) Cylon

4) Human 2 seater

5) Cylon 2 seater

[rcjp]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobile/singapore/battlestar-galactica-ride/1452136.html?cid=FBSG

 

An interesting video of the ride testing went up. If you look close you can see new 2 across seating trains.

Interesting. Well, if it works it's better than nothing. (maybe they could have tried three seats?)

[KingRCT3]

I think it's still the old chassis from the old train (there's still the zero-car), minus two seats and the scenery. So three seats is impossible, it would have been asymmetrical.

[rcjp]

^Oh, I see. I didn't realise this could just eb the old car with the centre seats only.

[gerstlaueringvar]

Interesting modification. Now they have two incredibly low capacity coasters.

[Garet]

Interesting modification. Now they have two incredibly low capacity coasters.

 

I mentioned it earlier in the topic but honestly, will it make that much of a difference? The queues were quite long on our trip to the point we had to purchase a fast pass (this was before unlimited) and even then with 1 train operation and single rider lines, both Battlestars had completely empty lines and the trains were leaving with empty seats until the afternoon when the park got a bit more busier. If reducing the seating by half does have an impact however perhaps they can switch to 2 train operations to keep it the same?

[gerstlaueringvar]

^ Launching a train to that height with LSM costs money, a lot of money. Two train operation costs much more money than one train operation.

[rcjp]

^But launching a lighter train is cheaper, right?

[gerstlaueringvar]

^But launching a lighter train is cheaper, right?

Half of the rider doesn't really reduce the total weight of the train too much. At least not to the point where launching two trains costs less.

 

I really hope this ride will be more popular and more reliable in the future. Some if my friends ride it and they said Cylon is very nice (human is more boring than Youngstar Coaster).

[COASTER FREAK 11]

^They didn't just reduce the riders by half, they also REMOVED half the seats. So close to half the weight has been removed from the train.

[gerstlaueringvar]

^They didn't just reduce the riders by half, they also REMOVED half the seats. So close to half the weight has been removed from the train.

Wheel bogies and main structure of the train is still the same unless they bought new trains. Branded the spines of the seats can be really heavy but still, two 16 seat trains is much heavier than one 32 seat train.

[COASTER FREAK 11]

I said nearly half. I understand the mechanics of the trains design. But, as you mentioned, these could be new trains even.

[CoasterFEV]

...unless they bought new trains.

 

[dearfish]

A video from a park guest on Nov 4 shows that test runs for the Battlestar Galactica ride at Universal Studios Singapore is underway.

 

 

 

 

 

thank you Channel NewsAsia

Edited November 7, 2014 by robbalvey

[Moose]

I hope they got a deal on the new trains from Vekoma.

[COASTER FREAK 11]

Yes, the deal is these ones wont throw seats off the chassis...lol

[willh51]

I wouldn't be surprised if these new trains/modifications were free. I am sure the contract for the ride included some kind of guarantee on performance. And it doesn't exactly look good for Vekoma or promote people to buy the new track style coasters if the main one is broken and unsafe.