Hogwarts Express (Universal Orlando Resort)
| Hogwarts Express | |
|---|---|
A Hogwarts Express train arriving at Hogsmeade station in Islands of Adventure
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| Universal Orlando Resort | |
| Area | The Wizarding World of Harry Potter |
| Coordinates | |
| Status | Operating |
| Soft opening date | 1 July 2014 |
| Opening date | 8 July 2014 |
| General statistics | |
| Attraction type | Funicular attraction |
| Manufacturer | Doppelmayr Garaventa Group |
| Designer | CWA Constructions and Universal Creative |
| Theme | Hogwarts Express (Harry Potter) |
| Music | London Symphony Orchestra |
| Length | 676 m (2,218 ft) |
| Speed | 12.2 km/h (7.6 mph) |
| Vehicle type | Cable car (railway) |
| Vehicles |
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| Riders per vehicle | 168 |
| Duration | About 4:00 |
| No. of Tracks | Single (with passing loop) |
| Track gauge | 1,800 mm (5 ft 10 7⁄8 in) |
 Wheelchair accessible |
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The Hogwarts Express is an 1,800 mm (5 ft 10 7⁄8 in) broad gauge funicular railway, people mover, and attraction within the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida, United States. The route runs 676 metres (2,218 ft) between Hogsmeade station in the Islands of Adventure theme park and King's Cross station in the London area of the Universal Studios Florida theme park. It provides a connection between the Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade areas which together form The Wizarding World of Harry Potter themed area, based on the Harry Potter film series.
The attraction, which was manufactured by the Doppelmayr Garaventa Group, is operated with two replicas of the Hogwarts Express. The two directions of travel provide two different experiences. Because the trains transport guests between stations in two separate theme parks, riders must have an admission pass valid for both theme parks, with ticket inspectors checking prior to boarding.
The Hogwarts Express soft-opened to the public on 1 July 2014 before officially opening seven days later along with the rest of the Diagon Alley expansion on 8 July 2014. Within one month of its opening, one million riders had travelled on the trains.
The idea of creating a Hogwarts Express-related attraction came from Mark Woodbury, the president of Universal Creative. After the opening of the Hogsmeade attraction at the Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010, Universal began considering how to keep attendance balanced between the adjacent parks. At first, the creative team considered putting Diagon Alley within Islands of Adventure. Eventually they decided that the London and Hogsmeade environments should not be visible between one another. As a result, Woodbury proposed building Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida and then connecting the two Harry Potter-themed lands with the Hogwarts Express train.
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