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The
Straits Times, 5 Aug 04
New cart ride attraction at Sentosa by next
year
Customers take a chairlift to a hilltop where the track starts and
can decide how fast they want the non-motorised cart to go
SENTOSA will house a new $5.5 million attraction by the middle of
next year. It is a ride on a three-wheeled cart, called the luge,
along a winding 650m-long track. Riders will be able to overtake each
other as the track will be wide enough for five carts.
It starts with a ride in a 320m chairlift, similar to a ski lift,
that takes the rider to the start of the track. Those who don't want
to go on the ride can still take the chairlift to the top of the hill,
where other attractions, including the Butterfly Park, Sky Tower and
Images of Singapore, can be found.
The track, constructed around the nature walk trail, is 4m wide and
can accommodate about five carts side by side, so overtaking will
be no problem. For safety reasons, the end of the track at Siloso
Beach will be narrowed to create an orderly flow of people in line
for the return ride on the chairlift to the start of the track. The
non-motorised cart has a unique braking and steering system which
allows the rider to decide the speed of travel, which averages 20kmh.
Helmets must be worn at all times.
The luge ride will be operated by the Sentosa Luge Company, a wholly
owned subsidiary of New Zealand leisure company Skyline Enterprises,
Sentosa said in a statement yesterday.
There are 11 luge sites in the world, including five operated by Skyline
Enterprises in New Zealand and Canada. The one on Sentosa will be
the second in Asia, after the site in Japan. The price for the ride
has yet to be set but a similar ride in Canada costs about CA$10 (S$13.10).
The attraction is part of an $8 billion, 10-year masterplan to revitalise
Sentosa Island, Sentosa Cove and the Southern Islands. The plan aims
to draw eight million visitors there a year by 2012.
Sentosa chief executive officer Darrell Metzger described it as a
safe and year-round activity for the family. 'It offers an enjoyable
ride for the young and old alike.' |
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