ABOUT THIS RIDE
What Rita is
Rita opened in 2005 (originally as Rita: Queen of Speed). The launch is the ride. Published figures put the top speed at 100 km/h from a standing start, with a 21-metre peak and a layout that stays close to the ground after the first straight.
Dark Forest is also home to Wicker Man and TH13TEEN, so Rita is often the third coaster in that loop. It is over quickly. If you want a long, scenic layout, this is the wrong Alton Towers ride; if you want a launch, it is the one on this site.
The theming is a police pursuit through the woods. You do not need the story to enjoy the launch, but it explains the station and the cars. Watch the POV for the acceleration — that is the clip people share, not a three-minute course.
What to expect
The hydraulic launch is abrupt. After that the train sweeps through a few turns and airtime hills before the brakes. There are no inversions.
Because the ride is short, queues can feel long relative to ride time. It is a good candidate for a walk-on later in the day if the main coasters are stacked.
