The first section of the new Valkyria dive coaster is now in place!

After a full year of groundwork in the park, work has now begun on the track for Valkyria and the first section is in place. Meanwhile, work continues on the most complex part of the project – the tunnel at the bottom of the 50-metre dive. Valkyria, which will open at Liseberg in summer 2018, will be the largest and longest dive coaster in Europe.

It has been a long wait for Kenneth Carlsson, Area Manager for the mechanical department at Liseberg, but now he has finally been able to start work with his colleagues and assemblers RCS Worldwide GmbH on assembling the track. The first sections to be constructed are those by the station, so that the station can then be built over the track. It has been a full year since work began on Valkyria in the park, as extensive groundwork was needed to provide solid foundations for the track.

“It’s great that we’ve now made a start on the track,” says Kenneth Carlsson. “I have worked at Liseberg since 1981 and helped to build around 20 different attractions including Loke, but Valkyria is probably the most exciting so far!”

The groundwork is continuing around us while we are assembling the track. The part that takes the longest to build is the three-storey deep tunnel that Valkyria enters at the bottom of its 50-metre dive. This is the most complex part of the project, as we are building in clay and the structure has to resist the pressure of the surrounding groundwater – it’s similar to the process of building the West Link rail tunnel. This part of the track will be built last of all to allow as much time as possible for the tunnel construction.

The tunnel, or rather the section just before it, will also be the most exciting part of Valkyria when it’s finished. After climbing up and up and up, you will drop vertically, or free-fall, at 105 kilometres per hour straight towards the tunnel and under ground.

“The experience will not be like any other ride at Liseberg. You will feel as if you are flying,” says Andreas Andersen.

Valkyria will be Europe’s longest and highest dive coaster. The attraction is being supplied by the Swiss roller coaster maker Bolliger & Mabillard, who are regarded as the Rolls Royce of roller coaster designers. This is the first time Liseberg has invested in an attraction from the company, which has a reputation as a creator of some of the world’s best roller coasters.

The track will be 700 metres long, 47 metres high and drop 50 metres into the tunnel. Each of the three trains will be made up of three cars, each with six seats side by side, and they will reach a top speed of 105 kph. Valkyria will open in summer 2018 in the Myths & Legends area at Liseberg.

Like to know more about Valkyria and its construction? Join the Facebook group Se Valkyria uppstå (Watch Valkyria take shape) or visit our website.