The Smiler

The Smiler
The Smiler trains dueling
Alton Towers
LocationAlton Towers
Park sectionX-Sector
Coordinates52°59′14″N 1°53′43″W / 52.98722°N 1.89528°W / 52.98722; -1.89528
StatusOperating
Opening date31 May 2013 (2013-05-31)
Cost£18 million
ReplacedThe Black Hole
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerGerstlauer
DesignerJohn Wardley (track layout)[1]
ModelInfinity Coaster
Track layoutInfinity Coaster 1170
Lift/launch systemTwo chain lift hills
Drop98.4 ft (30.0 m)
Length3,838.6 ft (1,170.0 m)
Speed52.8 mph (85.0 km/h)
Inversions14
Duration2:45
Capacity1,200 riders per hour
G-force4.6[2]
Height restriction140 cm (4 ft 7 in)
Trains4 trains with 4 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 16 riders per train.
Fastrack available
Single rider line available
The Smiler at RCDB

The Smiler is a steel roller coaster located at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, United Kingdom. The Infinity Coaster model from Gerstlauer set a world record for most inversions on a roller coaster when it opened in 2013,[3] featuring 14 inversions that include dive loops, sidewinders, corkscrews, and other inverting elements. The ride was constructed in the X-Sector area of the park and underwent an extensive advertising campaign, during which it was codenamed Secret Weapon 7 (SW7).

A series of setbacks plagued The Smiler early on. A malfunction at a press preview event delayed the official opening date by two weeks, and in 2015, a major collision between two trains left five riders seriously injured. The incident resulted in an investigation by the UK government's Health and Safety Executive, and the ride eventually reopened the following season with revamped safety protocols and procedures.

  1. ^ Feature: Life has been a rollercoaster for white knuckle ride designer John Wardley. Birmingham Mail. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Infinity-Coaster » Gerstlauer Amusement Rides". Gerstlauer. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Record-AmusementToday was invoked but never defined (see the help page).