Alton Towers to reopen its Smiler rollercoaster

ALTON TOWERS has confirmed that its Smiler ride will be running when the theme park reopens on March 19.

Five people were seriously injured on the ride last June and the Health and Safety Executive has launched a prosecution against the theme park’s owner, Merlin Attractions.

However the theme park has confirmed on Twitter that the 14-loop rollercoaster, which can reach a speed of 85km/hr, will be back in action for the 2016 season.

The closure of Alton Towers in the aftermath of the accident, and the negative publicity that followed, were key reasons for the 12.4% fall in revenues at Merlin’s resort theme park division in 2015.

Merli’s chief executive Nick Varney has described 2015 as “the most difficult year in Merlin’s history”.

Speaking last week, he said: “Our focus since June has therefore necessarily been on ensuring we support those injured in every way we can while putting in place extensive measures to ensure such an accident cannot happen again.”