The Smiler
The Smiler is a steel roller coaster located at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England. The Infinity Coaster model from Gerstlauer set a world record for most inversions on a roller coaster when it opened in 2013, 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. The ride malfunctioned during a press preview event, delaying 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, as well as modified safety protocols and procedures when the ride reopened the following season.
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