Alton Towers bosses: It's time to move on from Smiler crash
"We know the events of last year were terrible for everybody involved but we think it is now time to move on."
These are the words of Alton Towers bosses as the theme park prepares to reopen for the new season – nine months on from the horrific Smiler crash.
The ride itself will reopen for the first time since the tragic events of last year which saw five people suffer serious injuries and two women have their legs amputated.
In the wake of the accident caused by a 'human error', the park remained shut for five days and visitor numbers continued to plummet.
Tomorrow, the popular theme park will open its gates to the public after shutting for the winter period in November last year.
And bosses say lessons have been learned and they are looking forward to the future.
Gill Riley, marketing director at Alton Towers, said: "We know the events of last year were terrible for everybody involved but we think it is now time to move on.
"That's why we continue to invest, bringing new rides and attractions to Alton Towers to entertain.
"We have learned our lessons and we are looking forward to the future, which includes bringing in new ride attractions such as Galactica and the rollercoaster restaurant to really excite families into coming to Alton Towers as they have done for the last 36 years."
One of the park's main attractions for the new season will be Galactica, which does not officially open until March 24.
The ride is the first in the world to combine virtual reality technology with a working rollercoaster.
Alton Towers will also open the UK's first rollercoaster restaurant in May, which will see food and drinks served directly to customer's tables using nothing more than hundreds of metres of track.
Last month, it was announced that the owners of the park, Merlin, will be prosecuted over the Smiler crash.
The Health and Safety Executive is taking the case against Merlin.
Leah Washington, 18, from Barnsley, Yorkshire, had to have her leg amputated, while her boyfriend Joe Pugh, 19, suffered shattered knee caps.
Vicky Balch, 21, from Leyland and Daniel Thorpe, 28, from Buxton, were also seriously injured. Vicky had her leg amputated.
