http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32980354

Perhaps I’m totally wrong, but isn’t this done by an architect, not No Limits?  If you look at The Swarm, there is no way No Limits is capable of doing half of the schematic elements demonstrated.  I can tell you for sure that the program used to generate these renderings is far more advanced than No Limits.  However, I suppose it is plausible, this was run through No Limits before here.  However, I find that doubtful.

Someone pointed this out to me the other day on a forum… The track style in the plans looks more like MS than Gerstlauer, but it’s actually Schwarzkopf track. Schwarzkopf being the default track style in no limits, and this being an export from No Limits. 

So, track style is pretty irrelevant, I guess. But that begs the question, why isn’t this accurate when all previous planning applications have had accurate plans? I have no idea.

I believe that the noise report is simply making a comparison to Saw, because it is the most similar thing in the country. I don’t think it’s an intentional lie, I think it’s an elaboration compiled by someone who was simply told “it’s similar to Saw”. It’s fishy regardless, but it’s carelessness that probably doesn’t matter. 

If it is a Gerstlauer, I’d not be surprised, but I’m placing bets on Maurer.

This is definitely legit.  The park has applied for similar applications most all major additions in recent years.  Not to mention, the exact same application process was conducted for Thorpe Park earlier last year for “LC12”.  LC12 was later announced as The Swarm with all the exact same thematic elements shown in the plans currently being built.

Excellent points!

I agree that Alton Towers would be able to market this as “World’s First Vertical Launch” if it actually paused in the vertical position before the launch.  

And I’ve completely forgotten about the X-Train design.  It does make sense especially with the shorter trains.  They’d also be lighter than X-Cars as well (or so I presume).  The three trains prediction was made out of maximum capacity.  However I could easily see a 4-5 car X-Train as well.

One point that does bring up is that, as we’ve seen from Intimidator 305 to SkyRush, when trains increase in width, the track does as well.  Its hard to get a sense of scale of this track from the diagrams, but I would imagine that introducing the 4-across X-Train will require some modification to the track design as well.  And perhaps this would cause some major changes to the launch as well.

None the less, great investigating yourself! Perhaps we should be on the look for the world’s first X-Train. 

The track running up to the vertical section on SW7 does not look as if its designed for trains travelling at any great speed. My bet is that the train will hit a block brake prior to making the vertical ascent. It will then make a slow climb to the vertical launch position. The only difficulty will be creating a vertical launch from a stationary start. This rules out an LSM launch in my opinion, unless combined with a fast chain hill. remember, we’re only taking 28mph and 1g. However if this utilises 3 X-Car trains like the above article states, that will be one very long train and will probably fill halve the vertical launch track. Why wouldn’t they consider the X-Train design that Maurer Sohne are waiting use. As shown here http://www.maurer-rides.com/x-coaster/x-train/? This will provide greater capacity in a shorter train design.

Has the X-Train been used anywhere yet?
 
Any thoughts?