Alton Towers: Enterprise and Submission to open in 2012, after all

Alton Towers has performed a surprise U-turn and revealed that its Enterprise and Submission rides will open for the 2012 season.

The park had previously announced that both rides would remain closed throughout the season, due to their proximity to the planned SW7 roller coaster. This would have left the X-Sector area of Alton Towers with just one operational ride, the Oblivion vertical drop coaster, until the new ride makes its debut in 2013.

However, in a statement released to Towers Times, Alton Towers' press department said: "A huge amount of work has been going on in the background to re-assess how we could keep these two ever popular attractions open should we be able to commence the preparatory work for the planned new rollercoaster opening in 2013, and we are now confident that we can achieve this."

The initial plan would have seen Enterprise and Submission left standing but not operating during 2012, in order to make construction work on SW7 easier. However, as the footprint of the new coaster does not incorporate the area that houses the two rides, this has not been necessary.

Two new rides, Nemesis Sub-Terra and Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs – The 4-D Experience would have made up the shortfall in the park's line-up during 2012, and will now simply add to it.

In 2013, Alton Towers will debut a new, multi-inversion roller coaster in X Sector. The park repeatedly stated the the ride will feature a "world-first" element, although it is not yet known what this will be.

You can find out more about Alton Towers' new roller coaster for 2013 by reading Theme Park Tourist's detailed breakdown of the SW7 plans.

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