Thorpe Park Ghost Train Review
So the Ghost Train, New for 2023 at Thorpe Park. Lets start by saying if any of you know me in person, you know I have a massive soft spot for the Ghost Train at Thorpe Park. I appreciated the effort put into the effect and the story when it was known as Derren Browns Ghost Train.
With the Derren Brown IP running out, Thorpe Park had to change the Ghost Train:
This next generation of Ghost Train will take you on a harrowing journey into the realms beneath THORPE PARK Resort to where the supernatural believers call home. Ghost Train is one of the UK’s longest ride experiences featuring live actors and multisensory effects to create a terrifying attraction like no other!
There’s nothing virtual about this petrifying experience, so prepare to meet your maker as you come face-to-face with horrors that dwell within.
Sounds fun right, now being a actor led experience, I would describe this sort of like the “Thorpe park dungeons”. The pre show, story and effects have all changed, the ride is also now more Actor Led (YAY the VR is gone).
To start the outside has been repainted, new posters and new signage, turning it into one of those “modernised old stations” sort of like you see on the tube. In 2023 they were still using both batching areas even though the ride now only runs 2 trains, so you sit in the batching area for approx. 15 minutes, 2024 on the opening day however only 1 was used which made for a much more pleasant waiting experience.
The Pre Show – Wow what they have done with this is incredible, its now a station “waiting room” with lots to look at, lots of moving parts like a old school departure board. I wont spoil the pre show itself but it sets the tone and is a massive improvement on the original. If you have been to the dungeons, imagine the Jack the ripper pub scene, you’ll notice some of those effects.
The next room has also been changed with new videos, a “lost and found” which has an old VR headset on it as a nod to the original Derren Browns ghost train. You then leave to enter the main train station. They were not allowed to keep the floating carriage effect, but it looks so much better now, more of a run down train station vibe, with lots of lightning effects and new sound effect, it sets a really dark mood before you board the trains.
The inside of the trains have been completely repainted and redesigned to reflect the new Non VR attraction. Each train has 2 actors on it to tell you the story of “Chapel station”, you definitely do not want to stop there. I am not going to go through the whole attraction as if you are a first time visitor, you don’t want to know anything, makes it much more fun! Unfortunately on opening day 2014 the shop scene was closed, but Im guessing that might just be teething problems and Id much rather the ride be open without that scene than closed completely.
Overall I love what they have done to revamp the Ghost Train, it is much more immersive, flows better and what’s key is you are never going to be let down by headset technical issues, so you can much easily enjoy the whole experience. Ill go on this ride most days I visit Thorpe park now!
See you in the next review
Sam
