Derren Browns Ghost Train Opens
Friday 8th July 2016
Derren Browns Ghost Train has officially opened to the public today! After months of delays the ride has finally opened to the public after previously being opened for technical rehearsals which aloud the park to shut the ride and tweak certain elements. Think you know what a ghost train is? Think again this is the ghost train reimagined.
Derren Brown Comments:
“I’m thrilled that the ghost train is finally launching to the public and everyone will be able to experience what I’ve been working on behind the scenes over the last three years.
This has been one of the biggest challenges I’ve undertaken, but without doubt the most enjoyable. I can’t wait to see the public’s reaction after unleashing this wonderfully twisted experience for the world to enjoy.
“From training the actors to shovelling coal under the suspended Ghost Train, this experience with the team at Merlin Magic Making and Thorpe Park has been a perpetual delight.”
DBGT Technical Rehearsals
Friday 1st July 2016
All aboard Derren Browns Ghost Train at Thorpe Park Resort! The ride has temporary opened for “Technical rehearsals” today. The ride is subject to delays or closure at any time.
This is the first time the ride has opened to the public prior to the ride being delayed two times, the ride is still yet to fully open to the public with a new permanent opening date expected soon.
Tuesday 24th May 2016
It has been announced on Thorpe Park’s social media that Derren Browns Ghost Train will not be opening by the end of May…
We wanted to let you know as soon as we knew that Derren Brown’s Ghost Train will not open next week as we hoped. We apologise sincerely for the delay. We’re just not ready to open the carriage doors until we’re 100% happy with the creative experience.
We will communicate the opening date here as soon as we can, so please keep your eyes peeled on our social channels for further updates. We are aware that some of you will have booked tickets to ride in anticipation of an end of May opening date. If your ticket falls on a date before ride opening then please email customer.services@thorpe-park.co.uk and our team will be able to help you out. If you have any other questions, please visit: https://www.thorpepark.com/faqs/
https://www.facebook.com/thorpepark/posts/10154054276985867
Final Call At Thorpe Junction Take 2
Sunday 22nd May 2016
Derren Browns Ghost Train is due to depart very soon! Arriving in May a new date is yet to be scheduled however we expect the park will make another announcement in the next few days. Posters in and around the park still say May and with the recently released TV advert we believe the park are still aiming for the end of May.
It would also appear that testing of the ride is still ongoing. With bits of paper put on all the emergency exits of the building saying “Ride Testing in progress” “No unauthorised entry” However during the day we saw lots of staff going in and out of the building in high vis jackets. We guess this means that staff training on the ride is currently on going.
Over the past week not much has happened on the exterior of the building however we’ve noticed a few changes. The queue time digital board has been plugged in with a message saying “Departs in unavailable” The word unavailable will be replaced with the current queue time when the ride opens. Entrance signs mapping out the fastrack, main entrance and disabled entrance have been put back up following them being removed temporary. Signs have been added in the queue line about queue jumping and the hygiene of the virtual reality headsets. Bins have also been added to the queue line in the past few days, all of these little things are all coming together now.
Modifications to the queue line have also happened in the past few days with the fences in front of the luggage kiosk removed. We believe this will be the holding area ready to go into the building. The boundary fence has also been finished with a Derren Browns Ghost Train entrance this way sign added to it.
Inside the building, the ghost train shop backwards clock is now functional and the levitating floating carriage is now available to buy in the shop. At the cost of £50 each they don't come cheap however you do get annual pass discount on them. Upon exit of the ride you have the opportunity to buy your photos taken in the queue line. The screens now show a screensaver with a service announcement saying “Scan your ticket. View your photo” We believe that when you scan your ticket your head in a jar photo will appear in one of the glass jars above. It would appear that photos for DBGT will come in two formats. A photo in a frame and a 3D photo print. The digital watermark for the photos also appears to come in 4 styles according to the banner under the retro TV screens.
A Glimpse Inside Derren Browns Ghost Train
Thursday 5th May 2016
Its full steam ahead at Thorpe Park as the park prepares to unveil its biggest investment to date! Derren Browns Ghost Train will be the world’s most extreme Ghost Train. It will subject thrill seekers to the ultimate heart-pounding journey that lasts between 10 – 15 minutes. With a first look inside the building we get a glimpse of whats to come when the ride opens.
The 7 tonne suspended ghost train carriage looks amazing. With the train all lit up in what seems to be an abandoned warehouse. The ground of the warehouse looks to have been covered in rocks, possibly to simulate coal from the old railway station.
As the worlds first multi-sensory theme park experience the ride will be using the very latest technology available. Such as the latest VR technology mixed with live action actors. The technology has been merged with special effects including vibrating floor plates and self-steaming windows amongst other surprises along the way.
The attraction is rated PG13. The build has taken 375 days and counting on site and has been over three years in the making.
Mike Vallis, Divisional Director of THORPE PARK Resort commented:
“We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Derren Brown’s Ghost Train. This is a true world-first attraction and we believe this development is a daring and exciting step into a new realm for theme park attractions around the world.”
Derren Brown comments:
“I am very excited to be launching my Ghost Train at Thorpe Park and can’t wait to get it started with all elements fused together. Initial reactions in stage 1 of VR testing gave delighted and scared test subjects in equal measure and that wasn’t even on board the ride itself.
“From training the actors to working closely with the Merlin Magic Making team and the technology outfitters this has been an incredibly hands on project for me, and an experience that is entirely different from writing TV shows and stage performances as the experience needs to work without me.
“Yes, there is a hidden message, an underlying story that has been pinned into the narrative – this is a ride with a mind of its own, that has been produced to mess with your mind, so why not provoke thought also.”
