Rita, Steel roller coaster in Alton Towers, England
Rita is a hydraulic-launch steel coaster at Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire. The 640-meter track winds through tight turns and over several small hills that create brief moments of weightlessness.
The coaster opened on April 1, 2005, under the name Rita: Queen of Speed as a new headline attraction. Five years later it was integrated into the Dark Forest section and received a new thematic design with a forest motif.
Today the ride belongs to the Dark Forest area of the park, where dark trees and mystical elements surround the queue. Visitors experience the contrast between the technical acceleration and the forest setting that has shaped the theme since the 2010 redesign.
The launch happens from a standstill with immediate acceleration to 98 kilometers per hour (61 miles per hour) within 2.5 seconds. The trains hold 20 people each in five cars, with each car offering four seats in two rows.
The hydraulic launch mechanism eliminates traditional lift systems entirely, so the acceleration begins without warning. The coaster reaches its top speed before most riders have processed the first impression.
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