News about Kumbak and Efteling

Efteling, for the second time, replaced the trains on Python, their 2 loops/Corkscrew Vekoma coaster. First time, they replaced the Arrow trains with the rounded style Vekoma trains, for a not so great success. Now, 7 years after, the Vekoma trains were replaced with... Kumbak trains! They completed the pullthrough and today, the new trains opened to the public.

Seems like Kumbak is on a roll!

You mean, they are making a "comeback".....

Sorry... ;)

You mean a "Kumbak" ;)

Why three sets of trains on an old Vekoma looper? Most old Vekoma loopers still have their original trains!

Who knows! But, the reason I heard why they changed the Vekoma trains is that they simply were too unreliable. Like 1 train spent most of the last year out of action.

Those first rounded Vekoma trains don't seem to be too reliable! Parc Asterix had to completely rebuilt their own set of trains for Goudurix. While over the same time lenght, the Arrow never had any problems!

From a riders perspective the second set of trains, which were added in 1997 were much better than the Arrow trains.

They were running definately faster! The transition from the second loop into the turnaround gave massive airtime. There was no headbanging and all in all its still a good coaster.

Interesting! People I know are saying the opposite for Super Wirbel at Holiday Park. Ever since they switched the trains from the Arrow to Vekoma ones, its been unridable! The old Arrow gave a nice smooth ride... the new ones are just too bumpy.

From what I´ve been told, they just popped the new chassis onto the old car frames on Super Wirbel.

I don´t think it is unridable, especially if you compare it to the catastrophy that is the corkscrew at Alton Towers. There is only one major bump which is somewhere towards the end.

Some enthusiasts used to power-ride this thing for 12 hours when Richard Rodriguez used Super Wirbel as his bed while attempting (one of) his world records.