T Express
T Express is a prefabricated wooden roller coaster at Everland theme park in Yongin, South Korea.[1] Manufactured by Intamin Amusement Rides, it features a height of 56 meters, a maximum drop of 46 meters at a 77-degree angle, and reaches speeds up to 104 km/h over a 1,641-meter track.[1][2] Opened on March 14, 2008, it was the first wooden roller coaster in South Korea and remains the longest, tallest, fastest, and steepest of its kind in Asia.[1] Globally, it ties for the tallest wooden roller coaster at 56 meters.[3] The ride's signature elements include multiple steep drops, high-speed turns, and airtime hills, delivering intense forces up to 4.6 g, which contribute to its reputation as one of the premier wooden coasters worldwide.[4] In 2024, Rocky Mountain Construction applied its Steel 208 ReTrak system, overlaying steel supports on the original wooden structure to enhance smoothness and ride quality while preserving the wooden coaster experience.[5] Operating with a capacity of 1,500 riders per hour using three trains, T Express draws significant crowds and has been praised for its thrilling layout despite typical wooden coaster maintenance challenges.[2]History
Development and announcement
The T Express, South Korea's first wooden roller coaster, was developed by Swiss manufacturer Intamin as the fourth and largest in a series of prefabricated wooden coasters produced during the 2000s.[6] The project aimed to introduce a high-thrill attraction to Everland Resort, featuring a 77-degree first drop that set a world record for steepness upon opening.[7] Construction commenced in 2007, with Blumer-Lehmann AG responsible for fabricating and erecting the 1,641-meter timber track using 45,000 laminated wooden blocks weighing 617 tons in total.[8][9] Public announcement of the ride preceded its debut by a short period, aligning with Everland's marketing for the 2008 season, though specific press release dates remain undocumented in available records. The coaster officially opened on March 14, 2008, in the park's European Adventure area, themed around an Alpine village, and quickly drew attention for its 56-meter height and national records in length (1.6 kilometers) and speed.[9]Construction and engineering
The T Express roller coaster was engineered and constructed by Intamin AG as the fourth and largest prefabricated wooden coaster in their series, following Colossos, Balder, and El Toro.[10] Prefabrication involved factory production of track sections using laser-cut wooden laminates tightly bonded under pressure, enabling precise modular assembly on-site that interlocks without manual nailing typical of traditional wooden coasters.[11] [7] This method facilitated the structure's extreme elements, including a 77-degree first drop from a 56.3-meter height, by minimizing on-site variability and allowing for steeper angles and higher speeds than conventional woodie designs.[5] Construction occurred primarily in 2007, with the ride opening on March 14, 2008, at a cost exceeding 30 billion South Korean won.[8] [12] The wooden support structure, comprising laminated timber, was erected to support over 1,690 meters of track, incorporating a cable lift hill to propel trains to the summit.[1] Engineering emphasized durability and smoothness, with the prefabricated track reducing vibrations and enabling sustained performance at up to 104 km/h.[13] In 2023–2024, select sections underwent partial retracking with Rocky Mountain Construction's steel 208 hybrid rails to address age-related wear while preserving the original layout.[5] [14]Opening and initial operations
The T Express, a wooden roller coaster at Everland Resort in Yongin, South Korea, opened to the public on March 14, 2008, in the park's European Adventure section.[12] The ride, constructed by Intamin, featured a 56-degree first drop—initially advertised and later verified as among the steepest for wooden coasters—and quickly drew attention as South Korea's inaugural wooden roller coaster model.[7] Initial operations commenced smoothly following a reported soft opening two days prior on March 12, with the coaster operating daily subject to weather and maintenance schedules typical for wooden structures.[12] However, just nine days after public debut, on March 23, 2008, the train halted abruptly on the 50-meter lift hill during ascent, stranding 36 passengers for approximately 30 minutes until rescued via an auxiliary lift; no injuries occurred, though riders reported gripping safety bars amid the unexpected stop, attributed to an automatic safety mechanism. This event highlighted early operational challenges with the prefabricated wooden track's reliability, though park officials confirmed the system functioned as designed to prevent unsafe conditions. In its first year, the T Express achieved high ridership, contributing significantly to Everland's attendance, with reports of long queues and strong visitor acclaim for its intensity despite the wooden coaster's inherent vibrations and roughness. Operations included standard precautions such as mandatory loose item storage to mitigate losses, a recurring issue noted from launch due to high-speed elements ejecting unsecured objects.[15] No further major disruptions were documented in 2008, establishing the ride as a flagship attraction while underscoring the need for vigilant maintenance on Intamin's prefabricated wooden designs.[16]Maintenance and modifications
The T Express, as a prefabricated wooden roller coaster manufactured by Intamin, requires periodic structural inspections and upkeep to address wood degradation, track alignment, and safety systems. Blumer-Lehmann, the company responsible for its initial timber construction in 2007, conducts comprehensive checks and maintenance every two years to ensure the integrity of the sophisticated wooden structure.[8] Operational downtimes have occurred due to technical issues, including a power failure on March 22, 2008, shortly after opening, which stranded riders mid-ride for approximately 10 minutes without injuries. Another power outage on November 14, 2023, halted operations around 3:30 p.m., requiring evacuation protocols.[17] Temporary closures for environmental factors, such as extreme cold weather in February 2025, have also necessitated pauses in service to protect mechanical components and rider safety.[18] A significant modification took place during an extended closure from November 20, 2023, to April 2024, involving partial retracking with Rocky Mountain Construction's (RMC) 208 steel top-track system overlaid on the existing wooden structure. This upgrade, aimed at improving smoothness, reducing vibration, and extending track longevity by minimizing wood-on-wood friction, transformed portions of the coaster into a hybrid design while preserving its overall layout and drop characteristics.[5][14] Post-retrack, the ride reopened with enhanced performance, as demonstrated in on-ride footage showing reduced roughness compared to pre-upgrade operations.[19] No further major structural alterations have been documented as of October 2025.Technical specifications
Track and layout
The T Express track spans 1,641 meters in length and is constructed using Intamin's prefabricated wooden segments, layered and bonded for precision assembly on-site.[1] The layout employs a terrain-hugging twister design, integrated into a hillside within Everland's European Adventure zone, which allows for dynamic elevation changes and banked maneuvers that follow natural contours rather than a flat out-and-back path.[7] This configuration emphasizes lateral forces through close-proximity turns and vertical airtime via undulating hills, without any inversions.[1] The circuit commences with a cable lift hill rising 56 meters to the peak.[1] Riders then descend a 46-meter first drop at a 77-degree angle, the steepest initial plunge among wooden coasters globally, propelling trains to 104 km/h.[1] [20] Post-drop, the path curves into a high-speed right-hand turnaround, succeeded by a sequence of four airtime hills that exploit terrain drops for negative G-forces, interspersed with sweeping left and right banked turns exceeding 4G laterally in sections.[5] A mid-course brake run bisects the layout, moderating speed before the finale comprising additional twisting hills, a descending right helix, and final brakes at ground level.[7] In 2024, approximately 380 meters of track—including portions of the initial drop—were retracked with Rocky Mountain Construction's steel I-Box top-mount rails overlaid on the wooden structure to mitigate vibration and enhance ride smoothness, preserving the original layout geometry.[21] This modification addresses common wooden coaster maintenance challenges without altering element sequencing or dimensions.[22]Trains and propulsion system
The T Express operates three trains manufactured by Intamin, each comprising six cars designed for seated riders.[1] Each car features three rows seating two passengers abreast, yielding a total capacity of 36 riders per train.[1] Passengers are restrained via individual lap bars, with no over-the-shoulder harnesses.[23] The trains' undercarriage includes anti-rollback wheels and standard flanged wheels compatible with the prefabricated wooden track.[1] Propulsion for the initial ascent employs a cable lift hill system, distinct from traditional chain lifts by using a continuous wire rope loop powered by an electric motor at the hill's base.[1] This mechanism engages the train via a short chain section on the cable, hauling it up the 56-meter (183.8 ft) lift at a sustained speed for efficient dispatch.[1] Following the crest, the ride transitions to gravity propulsion, with no additional launches, magnetic brakes, or powered sections along the 1,840-meter track.[1] The cable system supports the coaster's throughput of up to 1,500 riders per hour across the three trains.[1] In 2024, portions of the track underwent partial retracking with Rocky Mountain Construction's 208 single-rail steel elements to address wear on the original Intamin prefabricated wooden structure, but the trains and lift mechanism remained unchanged.[5]Performance records
The T Express reaches a top speed of 104 km/h (65 mph) following its initial drop of 46 m (151 ft) at a 77° angle from a maximum height of 56 m (184 ft).[1][7] The ride spans a track length of 1,641 m (5,384 ft) and lasts approximately 3 minutes.[1][7] It ties with Wildfire at Kolmården Wildlife Park for the title of the world's tallest wooden roller coaster at 56 m.[3] Within South Korea, the T Express holds the records for the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster, as well as the longest roller coaster overall, surpassing other installations in the country.[7] It ranks as the second-fastest roller coaster in South Korea, behind only steel models like the Formula Rossa equivalents or hypercoasters elsewhere, but maintains prominence among wooden types globally for its prefabricated Intamin design.[12]| Performance Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 56 m (184 ft) | Tied world record for wooden coasters[3] |
| Drop Height | 46 m (151 ft) | Seventh tallest drop among operating wooden coasters as of 2025[12] |
| Drop Angle | 77° | Among the steepest for wooden coasters, surpassed by later RMC hybrids like Goliath at 85°[7][24] |
| Top Speed | 104 km/h (65 mph) | Fastest wooden coaster in South Korea[1] |
| Track Length | 1,641 m (5,384 ft) | Third longest among wooden coasters worldwide[12] |