Top Thrill 2 is the world’s first reimagined strata coaster and the fastest and tallest LSM triple-launch coaster. Thanks to the all-new linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch system, riders experience three unique launches:

• A forward launch at a speed of 119 km/h (74 mph), which leads into a crowd favorite- the rollback

• A second backward launch reaching a speed of 163 km/h (101 mph), climbing at a 90-degree angle on the new, 128 meter (420 foot)-tall vertical spike.

• A third launch that clocks in at the ride’s top speed of 193 km/h (120 mph) and speeds over the 128 meter (420 foot) top hat before diving into a 270-degree spiral leading to the finish line.

The project used part of the old ride’s original track and re-imagined the experience, which required years of research and design from Zamperla’s engineers. The most important feature of the Top Thrill 2 Lightning train is the weight: thanks to the aluminum-milled chassis and the carbon-fiber bodywork, it weighs less than almost any other train of this type on the market.

The wheels are also a unique project component. They are sized to withstand the high speeds of the record-breaking experience and use a polyurethane compound that can stand up to the heat created from multiple high-speed accelerations.

Artist concept rendering, Courtesy of Cedar Point.