Six Flags New England to open for season with new roller coaster this weekend. How to go

Six Flags New England is preparing for their season opening this weekend, and this year, a thrilling new roller coaster is joining the theme park's lineup of rides.

Called the Quantum Accelerator, the new coaster is described as a family-friendly thrill ride with high speeds, twists, turns and lots of airtime. Joining an impressive list of over 100 rides, shows and attractions, the new ride will be the 12th roller coaster to join the theme park and the first dual-launch straddle coaster in all of New England.

Here's everything to know before riding the new rollercoaster at Six Flags New England this summer.

About the new roller coaster at Six Flags New England

According to the Six Flags website, the Quantum Accelerator will feature two launches, 11 moments of airtime and speeds up to 45 mph. In total, the ride lasts for a little over two minutes, traveling 2,604 feet.

The coaster's cars are designed as steampunk-themed hover bikes to immerse riders in the steam-powered machinery that inspired the ride. Riders will not just sit in the ride's seat like a typical rollercoaster, but instead straddle the seat and grab handlebars. This feature allows for riders to lean forward, maximizing acceleration and adrenaline.

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The dual-launch aspect means that the rollercoaster accelerates riders twice. While normal rollercoasters begin by climbing uphill to build to an accelerated speed, this ride propels out of the starting dock, reaching 30 mph in just a few seconds. Halfway through the ride, the second wave of acceleration pushes riders to 45 mph.

Six Flags lists the minimum height requirement to ride the Quantum Accelerator as 48 inches.

How to ride the new roller coaster at Six Flags New England

Six Flags New England officially opens for the season this Saturday, April 5. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday-Sunday and select Fridays, with extra hours for school vacation week from April 20-25. The theme park will transition to daily operations in June.

Daily tickets normally cost $80 per person, but Six Flags is currently running an opening sale for $29 tickets. The sale will last online through April 4, and its tickets are valid through June 30. Six Flags also offers season passes at various levels.

Six Flags New England is located at 1623 Main St., Agawam, Massachusetts.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Six Flags New England opens April 5 with new roller coaster