A fearsome creature, fury heightened and more uncontrollable than ever before! Twisting and turning through the rocky terrain, Nemesis Reborn creates a unique experience for new and seasoned thrill seekers alike and is still regarded by many as one of the top roller coasters in the world.
Need2Know
- Min. Rider Height: 1.4m
- Max. Rider Height: None
- Ride Photography: Yes
- Fastrack: Yes
Tech Specs
- Manufacturer: B&M
- Ride Type: Inverted Coaster
- Opened: 19th March 1994
- Reborn: 16th March 2024
- Cost: £10 million
- Track Length: 716m
- Max. Track Height: 20m
- Max. Speed: Approx 81km/h
- G-Force: 4G
- Bolts: 7452
- Weight: 440 Tonnes
- Passengers per Car: 32
- Capacity: 1400 riders per hour
- Duration: 1 min 20 secs
Upon entering the Nemesis Containment Zone, you are first greeted by the roller coaster’s black track, uniquely painted with red veins, bursting out from and disappearing into the surrounding landscape. At the centre of the containment zone is of course the Nemesis creature herself, featuring a singular, blazing red eye surrounded by razor-sharp teeth and tentacles. What’s more, the creature’s giant claw has seemingly grabbed hold of one of the supports and torn it away from the track.
Those who are willing to brave an up close encounter with the Nemesis creature enter the ride’s queue through an entrance off to the left, which has been overtaken by tentacles from the creature. Guests enter beneath a sign displaying a 3D version of the Nemesis Reborn logo. The main queue heads up the stairs to the left, while the Fastrack queue heads right, passing beneath the corkscrew and around the pit where the vertical loop is located. The ambulant Ride Access Pass entrance is down a slope just off to the right of the entrance structure. Step free access for non-ambulant Ride Access Pass users is via the ride exit.
In the initial part of the queue line, the first theming element of note is a section of track emerging from the ground. After passing near to the first drop, the queue heads back towards the area overlooking the creature and coaster itself. Another theming feature in the form of a large gun is found here, aimed towards the Nemesis creature. This incorporates lighting and sound effects which indicate that it is preparing to discharge, with this then triggering as the train passes through the first corkscrew. In this area can also be found a viewfinder, which allowing you to observe Nemesis from afar. The queue also temporarily opens up into a large viewing area, providing an opportunity to take in the sights of Forbidden Valley. On the fencing that runs alongside the Nemesis ride area, there is signage warning that this is an electric fence with metal wiring along the top of these sections to fit with this.
You are then directed up around the first drop and lift hill, eventually reaching the Phalanx Field Lab, which has seemingly been attacked by Nemesis with one side torn open by another section of track. This serves as a rolling pre-show, with a video and audio loop seeing Dr Haldane intercept the Phalanx announcements to warn you of the Phalanx’s sinister intentions and that their hubris has led to them losing control of Nemesis. Signage on the walls of the lab provide an insight into Nemesis’ mutations which include impenetrable armour, attack spikes, acidic saliva, and enhanced vision capabilities.
Eventually you reach a section of queue line which runs along the top of the pit, overlooking the vertical loop. The queue then heads around the stall turn, where another viewfinder is located. Here a Phalanx helicopter has crash landed in the centre of the stall turn, intermittently smoking while Phalanx personnel communicating over its radio can be heard. The registration of this aircraft is SB-IFT, representing the coaster’s iconic catchphrase – ‘Sit Back, Its Fright Time’. The final section of the queue takes you past the roller coaster’s maintenance building, marked as Hangar 24 – Phalanx A.I.R Command. The main queue line then merges with the Fastrack / ambulant RAP queue on the final approach to the Nemesis creature.
Guests then enter the Nemesis creature herself, with the interior of the station themed to create the feeling that you are inside a living organism, with elements that include giant ribs and fleshy fabric suspended from the ceiling. Additionally, smells, paintwork on the row dividers and lighting, including two giant illuminated veins which run overhead, complete the station’s organic feel. The vein closest to the track incorporates the numbers for each of the eight rows of four, with a staff member on-hand to batch guests.
Once it is their turn to ride, the air gates open for guests to deposit any bags and loose articles in wooden shelves on the far side of the station and then take their seats aboard the train, pulling down the red overhead restraints and securing the seatbelt at the base of the restraint. Ride hosts, in their Phalanx operative uniform, complete the usual restraint checks and then prepare to dispatch the train. Upon dispatch the floor beneath the train lowers and a combined lighting and sound sequence triggers and as the train moves steadily out of the station.
The train turns gently to the right as it leaves the station and then begins its ascent up the lift hill. Upon reaching the top, initially descends a small pre-drop to disengage from the lift chain, and then turns left as it accelerates down the first drop. The on-ride photo / video is captured at the bottom of the first drop, with spotlights illuminating the train as it goes past to ensure guests are clearly visible during both the day and night! The train then whips up into a right-hand corkscrew and then continues on a downward path as it enters a 270 degree right hand helix, arguably the most intense section of the layout. Following this, the train climbs into the second inversion – a zero-g roll over the Nemesis creature where riders experience a feeling of weightlessness, whilst also being blasted by smoke ejected by the Nemesis creature.
After passing across the pit, the train takes a right-hand stall turn around the crashed helicopter and then plummets to the bottom of the pit in order to accelerate into the vertical loop. The ride exits from the loop into a tunnel and then rises into a more gentle left-hand turn across the front of the Nemesis creature, its eye slightly opening as the train passes. Descending into a smoke-filled tunnel, the final inversion is effectively hidden from riders until they find themselves being whipped upside down one last time. This takes riders past the crashed Mushroom Tours bus which has been attacked by one of the creature’s tentacles, with sound, lighting and smoke effects triggering as the train flies by. The train passes through one final smoky underpass, before completing the final turn up to the right, into the brake run. After being gradually slowed down by magnetic brakes, the train then moves forward slowly towards the rear of the station, passing alongside the maintenance building which has been designated as the “Containment Unit”.
Once the train is secured in the station the restraints are released and you are able to leave the ride, collecting any loose articles from the shelves. You exit through a doorway in the centre of the wall, walking down a themed ramp that is located next to the ride’s final inversion. It is this ramp which non-ambulant RAP users queue along, entering through the doorway at the station’s rear. After facing Nemesis, guests can purchase their on-ride photos and videos from the Nemesis Surveillance unit.
As you approach the queue-line, situated in the heart of Forbidden Valley, you are first greeted by the distinctive roar created as the rollercoaster hurtles around its course. Entering the queue you descend into the pit passing a waterfall before walking beneath the lift hill element of the ride as trains ascend above your head. Turning left you follow a path alongside the main station – themed as the Nemesis Monster itself – you make your way up a short flight of steps before looping around to left to make your way into the station. As you wait, you can see the ride fly by at eye level increasing the level of anticipation you feel. Finally you enter the station – where there is the option to queue separately for the front row – and make your way down a short ramp to the batching area.
Riders self-batch into a total of 8 rows of four – six rows for general riders, the first row has its own queue and the final row can be reserved for disabled riders. Once the previous train has released riders, the air gates open allowing you to board the train. Any loose articles can be deposited in cages on the far side of the station. Taking your seat you pull down the white overhead restraint, locking it into place, before securing the seatbelt at the base of the restraint. Once all restraints have been confirmed to be locked and secured the floor beneath the train lowers before the train moves steadily out of the station.
Upon exiting the station the train takes a right turn towards the lift-hill and begins its ascent over the queueline which snakes beneath it. Once at the summit of the lift-hill the train makes a small dip before turning 180 degrees to the left descending 104ft down the first drop and into a right hand corkscrew. Continuing on a downward path, the train then enters a 270 degree right hand helix before rising up into the second inversion – a zero–g roll where riders experience a feeling of weightlessness. Following this, the train makes a right-hand stall turn into a vertical loop (which can be seen from the queueline by the station), before a left stall turn into another corkscrew. Passing through an underground tunnel, the train makes a final 180 degree turn before entering the brake run and pulling slowly into the station.
Once the train is secured in the station the restraints are released and you are able to leave the ride, collecting any loose articles deposited in the cages. You exit the station via a gate opened for you by one of the ride team and make your way down a short ramp. As you walk away from the ride you are able to view your on-ride photograph in a shop to the right hand side.
The Backstory
Deep in the Thunder Valley area of Alton Towers Resort, a routine excavation led to a shocking discovery – Nemesis, an alien predator from another dimension. This dangerous creature had been hidden, lying dormant until it was disturbed and awoken from its slumber. Once awake, it began to feed and wreak havoc on the surrounding area. The ensuing battle to contain the beast resulted in the near destruction of Thunder Valley, leaving behind a post-apocalyptic landscape that is now known as Forbidden Valley.
In 1994, the situation reached a critical point, and the Phalanx, a private military organization, was mobilized to deal with Nemesis. Their extreme security division managed to pin the beast down with 250 tonnes of steel, successfully containing it. A security silence fell over Forbidden Valley and for years that followed, everything seemed to be under control, and the world moved on.
Rumours of suspicious activity surrounding the Nemesis site began to grow and to reassure the public, the Phalanx re-opened their newly recommissioned Phalanx Research Facility, promising that their work was for the greater good of humankind and the security of civilization. They installed high-security fencing and modernized the entire site with state-of-the-art technology and weapons. Forbidden Valley was now more secure than ever before, and everyone believed that everything was under control.
However, leaked footage revealed that the Phalanx had not been entirely truthful with the public. Nemesis had returned to Forbidden Valley, but something had changed. The leaders of the Phalanx had become power-hungry and had gone too far in their quest for universal security and control. They planned to create a secret weapon using Nemesis to genetically mutate her offspring and ship them to their Phalanx facilities around the globe.
These mutations made Nemesis stronger, enhancing the blood flow through her tentacles, developing impenetrable armour, attack spikes, acidic saliva, and enhanced vision capabilities. Although their own scientists warned of the danger this posed and feared human technology could not control her, they were ignored. The sedation wore off, and Nemesis awoke, angrier and more uncontrollable than ever before.
The effects of sedation dwindled, and Nemesis stirred to life, her fury heightened, and an unprecedented level of uncontrollability ensued. The scenario quickly escalated beyond containment; the Phalanx found themselves grappling with a loss of authority. As riders, we are nothing more than minor disturbances, intensifying her irritation. While efforts are made to maintain some semblance of control, Nemesis remains untamed.
Officially opening on 19th March 1994 billed as ‘The Ultimate Thrill Ride’, Nemesis was Europe’s first inverted roller coaster and only the fourth to open worldwide. Restrictions placed upon the ride through planning rules forbade the attraction to be seen above tree height forcing Alton Towers to blast out the pit the ride now calls home. The result – a unique thrill ride twisting and turning around the rocky terrain creating near misses and white knuckle moments.
Designed to be a replacement for the Thunder Looper, the original proposal for the ride was a design from Arrow Dynamics. The company was working on a prototype pipeline rollercoaster and it was this that ride designer John Wardley first looked at. Codenamed Secret Weapon one (SW1) the ride was to be themed around a secret military facility and have a track length of just 300 metres (980ft) due to the restrictions placed upon the park. However, due to a combination of technical issues with the design of the ride and financial problems being encountered by Arrow Dynamics, the project was placed on hold.
One year later, under the codename Secret Weapon 2, the project was revived. This time, in order to accommodate a larger ride, rock blasting was undertaken in the area the attraction was to be built. However, once again the project was to be abandoned. Having ridden the prototype ride developed by Arrow Dynamics, designer John Wardley described it as being slow, cumbersome, boring and inefficient.
Rumours were circulating of a rollercoaster design being installed at Six Flags Great America by Bolliger and Mabillard (B&M), something which would be the first of its kind in the world – an inverted roller coaster (where the trains are located beneath the track and your legs dangle freely) with inversions. John Wardley entered into discussions with the general manager at Six Flags to gain further information regarding the ride and, after experiencing the completed attraction, Batman: The Ride, wanted to add a similar ride to Alton Towers.
Given the codename Secret Weapon 3, the proposals and design for the ride was developed throughout 1992 with Wardley working alongside Stengal Engineering to develop a layout which wouldn’t just thrill and excite those on the ride, but also appeal to those watching with many elements being at eye level for non-riders to observe. It was the then Marketing Director at Alton Towers, Nick Varney, alongside John Wardley who came up with the name Nemesis and the concept of an alien creature trapped beneath the ground.
The ride finally officially opened on 19th March 1994 (having had soft opening from 16th March). It was the first B&M attraction to be installed outside the United States of America and proved to be a huge success. Nemesis would prove to be the pioneer in a series of innovative thrill rides to use the ‘Secret Weapon’ code name – a code name which would become synonymous with future first of their kind and world beating attractions at Alton Towers Resort.
In January 2022, Alton Towers submitted an application to confirm the lawfulness of maintenance works to Nemesis, with the intention of increasing the rollercoaster’s lifespan. It was proposed that the majority of the roller coaster’s track sections would be replaced, including 89 of the 117 supports, along with work to strengthen and improve the foundations. In September 2022, it was confirmed that upon Nemesis closing at the end of the season it would undergo the planned refurbishment and reopen in 2024. Therefore, 6th November 2022 was the final day that the ride operated in its original form, with the occasion being marked by the Phalanx commencing their investigation into Nemesis’ abnormal behaviour. This culminated with 30 lucky ‘final test specimens’ riding on the very last train alongside John Wardley, the ride’s creator, and John Burton, the Creative Lead for the refurbishment project.
Following the end of the 2022 season, the Resort quickly got to work removing Nemesis’ original track and supports. By early 2023 all of the track due for replacement had been removed, with the brake run, station and lift hill being the only sections retained.
Attention then turned to preparing the new foundations and footers, ahead of the arrival of the new-look black and red vein track in late April 2023. The installation of the new track and supports continued throughout the rest of the 2023 season, with the final sections installed shortly after the theme park closed in November.
During this time, it was also evident that the Nemesis creature itself (i.e. the ride’s station) would be undergoing a transformation, with its eyes, claws, tail and some of its legs all removed, and what remained adopting a new grey and red look.
The final weekend of the season also brought the news that Nemesis would be back with a vengeance in 2024, with visible damage to a section of the construction fences following the Nemesis creature escaping containment.
With the theme park closed and track installation complete, attention could turn to the scenic and landscaping work around the ride. Then, on Monday 8th January 2024, Alton Towers revealed that its iconic rollercoaster would return as Nemesis Reborn, together with unveiling a new look for the creature itself.
Along with the visual, the new logo for Nemesis Reborn was also revealed. Taking inspiration from the coaster’s original logo, but with the ‘I’ of Nemesis now referencing the distinctive eye of the creature and the ‘N’ sporting some additional teeth. ‘Reborn’ took on a similar veiny red appearance to that of the new track, and those with eagle eyes noted that the ‘B’ and ‘O’ could also be read as ’30’, in reference to Nemesis reaching its 30-year milestone in 2024, having first opened in 1994.
The next exciting announcement came on Friday 19th January, when the Resort released a short video of Nemesis Reborn taking its first test runs. This came alongside a news report from BBC Midlands on the same day.
On 21st February 2024, Alton Towers confirmed that Nemesis Reborn would open on Saturday 16th March – the first day of the 2024 season! To mark the announcement, the Resort published images and drone footage of a floating seven-metre-wide, blazing red eye located in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, noted to be one of the UK’s most notorious alien hotspots.
In the week leading up to the roller coaster’s opening day, the Resort released some night-time drone footage of the train traversing the layout along with the official TV commercial. The latter told the story of Percy the Night Watchman who had a thrilling encounter with Nemesis whilst completing his rounds on the night of the 14th March 2024 – his disappearance was referenced by physical and electronic signage around the theme park, as well as by the area’s roaming actors.
Nemesis Reborn opened as planned on 16th March 2024, seeing a maximum reported queue time of 275 minutes. During its first few weeks of operation, many riders did comment on a rattle experienced whilst riding, which was more pronounced for those sitting towards the back of the train and in the latter part of the layout. This was worked on by both the Resort’s and B&M’s engineering teams, with the ride operating with a reduced number of rows and only one train on some mid-week days during this period.
Original Construction
Work began on Nemesis in 1991, with the initial blasting for the ride’s large pit. Not many pictures of construction exist on the internet, so we’re proud to bring you this selection.
Nemesis (1994 – 2022)
Although Nemesis continues to live on, November 2022 brought to an end its first era. Head over to our archives to remember the original incarnation in all its glory. Sit back – it’s fright time!
Track Replacement Plans
In January 2022, Alton Towers submitted an application to confirm the lawfulness of maintenance works to Nemesis. The plans showed that the vast majority of the track and supports would be replaced, with the intention of increasing the rollercoaster’s lifespan.
Track Replacement Construction
Nemesis’ track replacement was unlike any other project at the Resort, with both the removal of the original track and supports followed by the installation of the new track. In contrast to the original construction, we captured plenty of photos of the entire process!
John Wardley Q&As
Nemesis designer John Wardley has joined us for various Q&A sessions on events over the years, including Nemesis@20 where he provided fascinating insights into the development of Nemesis.
