Six Flags Magic Mountain: Superman coaster set to reopen in March

The revamped Six Flags Magic Mountain to run Superman coaster backward” href=”http://arstechnica.netblogpro.com/travel/deals/themeparks/la-trb-superman-six-flags-magic-mountain-20101019,0,4743557.story”>Superman roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, with new trains that rocket riders backward at 100 miles per hour, is scheduled to reopen March 19, just in time for spring break.

The streamlined trains, which are expected to arrive at the Valencia amusement park this week, will have lower-profile sides for a more exposed feeling but will also be equipped with more restrictive over-the-shoulder restraints.

Crews recently completed a new paint job in classic Superman colors, with red on the top third of the 415-foot-tall track and blue on the lower portion, plus yellow rails. On-track testing of the new trains is expected to begin by the end of the month.

Re-dubbed Superman: Escape from Krypton, the retooled ride adds trains that run backward instead of forward, as they have since the $20-million, magnetic-launch shuttle coaster opened in 1997.

After the ride operates for a few months, one of the cars on the twin tracks will be turned around to run forward, allowing riders to choose between the two options.

The old ride, known as Superman: The Escape, featured a gravitational force of 4.5 Gs and 6.5 seconds of weightlessness, according to Roller Coaster Database.