The Nemesis rollercoaster at Alton Towers is to have major restoration work including widespread track replacement.
In a planning application submitted to Staffordshire Moorlands Council, Alton Towers describes the work as being needed to “accord to the latest safety standards”.
The entire track will be replaced between the top of the ride’s lift hill and the final brake run into the station.
Plans reveal that the replacement track will be sand-filled. This is likely to see the end of the ride’s distinctive roar, as vibrations would be decreased.
The timeline for the completion of the works is not yet clear, nor is their start date.
The planning application is being sought to confirm the legality of the work, which is effectively a like-for-like replacement of the 1994-built rollercoaster.
Steel and foundation fatigue are likely to be the primary reasons for the work, as deteriorated supports allow for increased movement and stresses on the ride.
The proposals effectively end longstanding speculation around the Bolliger & Mabillard-manufactured ride’s long-term future.