Update: 9 November 2014
USS has begun to test the Battlestar Galactica roller coaster once again, signifying that the ride will be reopening very soon. In fact, a statement by Building and Construction Authority who administers amusement park rides in Singapore says that they had issued a modification permit for the Cylon side in October this year.
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| The ride feels so empty with only 1 side being tested. |
If you are wondering what the modification is, the most obvious change is that the ride will only set 2 abreast for a total capacity of 16 riders per train. The speed of the ride looks unchanged to me.
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| Notice that the ride now only sits 2 abreast. The 8 row configuration of the ride remains unchanged. |
Update: 14 July 2014
I visited USS on Sunday to renew my Season Pass into an Annual Pass, and something really surprised me. After about 2 months of work, and almost exactly 1 year since the ride was closed for an attraction review, the scaffolding around Battlestar Galactica roller coaster is gone!
Picture of Battlestar Galactica taken 13 July 2014
Picture of Battlestar Galactica taken 1 June 2014
To be honest, I do not see any real structural or cosmetic changes to the ride after the scaffolding was removed. For these six weeks, in fact, I visited the park about 4 times and never once saw a construction worker or cranes or new coaster track/trains, except 1 staff which I spot walking out of the scaffolding area. I suspect that all work is done at night.
With almost no visible external changes, I think these are the possibilities:
- The new ride vehicles for Battlestar Galactica has been loaded onto the track during these 6 weeks. This location is actually quite suitable for ride vehicle insertion as the tracks here are among the lowest and there is actually a pathway leading in from the behind the scenes service road at this side of the ride. I just wonder if that's the case, why don't they just load the vehicles from the maintenance shed?
- The ride undergone track replacement for one or a few sections. The reason no visible changes can be observed is that the new track pretty much follows the same layout (perhaps replacement to combat metal fatigue, etc)
- As part of the attraction review, this scaffolding was erected to allow inspectors to have a closer examination of the track section in question. But I don't think this is sensible as they can simply use cherry pickers at a much lower cost.
- The lockers are being serviced. I seriously doubt it, though, as there is no need for USS to erect scaffolding for this relatively minor job
- The park decided to tear down the ride but got the approval at the last minute not to. (lol)
Does anyone know what is this logo? (Is it something to do with the ride sponsor?)
If option 1 or 2 is correct, we should expect the ride testing to start anytime now (perhaps at night), which means we may be only a month or two from the reopening of the ride. However, if the possibility is closer to option 3, I think we will not be able to experience the new ride anytime soon.
New brakes are spotted on the major airtime hill just beside the Cylon Vertical Loop. Is the ride really getting slower?
As you can see, the affected area near to the Human side entrance has no visible changes
One a side note, the new Far Far Away ride at USS is going to be a Suspended Family Coaster of some sorts (whether indoor, what theme, etc has not been announced), and some speculate that this is in replacement for Battlestar Galactica.
For now, let's keep our fingers crossed. No, let's move your fingers and comment on what do you think is happening to the ride.