Major operation begins to dismantle Efteling’s Python roller coaster
Today (11 January) a major operation has begun at the Dutch theme park Efteling as the first parts of the track of the Python roller coaster are cut, as part of the ride’s renovation. The dismantling and rebuilding of the 36 year old Python will take almost three months.The first phase, over a period of two weeks and at a height of 30 metres, involves cutting the 350,000 kilo steel track into pieces with cutting torches. After that, the Efteling track parts will be cut into smaller chunks weighing around 5,000 kilos with giant hydraulic pincers, which will then be transported and melted to be reused. The Python roller coaster and Efteling icon will undergo maintenance from January to March 2018. In the process, the course will be broken down and then rebuilt. The experience will remain the same, reflecting the double corkscrew, the helix and all the loops in the new design.
The nuts and bolts from the pillars of the roller coaster’s supporting construction will be kept, and these will be turned into a very special Python souvenir that will be for sale exclusively in the Efteling shops from the end of March.
On Saturday 31 March 2018, the Python roller coaster will reopen for visitors.Other Efteling roller coasters such as the dual-tracked roller coaster Joris en de Draak (George and the Dragon), the dive coaster Baron 1898, the water coaster De Vliegende Hollander (Flying Dutchman) (from 1 February) and indoor roller coaster Vogel Rok remain open (weather permitting).
