Excitement turns to frustration as a burst pipe causes disruptions on the opening day of the highly anticipated Toxicator ride at Alton Towers.
Alton Towers, a prominent theme park located in Staffordshire, faced disruptions on the opening day of its latest ride, Toxicator, due to a burst pipe that led to a leak of brown liquid near the ride’s entrance. The incident occurred on Saturday, contributing to frustration among visitors who had been eagerly awaiting the debut of the attraction.
Reports from guests indicated that a “brown liquid” was leaking in the vicinity of the entrance, prompting concerns about its nature. However, a spokesperson for Alton Towers clarified that the leak was not sewage-related but resulted from a burst pipe nearby. The park confirmed that the ride operations were briefly suspended for approximately two hours to manage the situation. “Due to an unexpected burst pipe near the ride, Toxicator briefly paused operation whilst our teams swiftly dealt with the issue. The ride and surrounding area are now fully re-open and welcoming guests,” the spokesperson stated.
Ben Keable, a visitor from Cheslyn Hay, shared his experience during the incident. He reported that he and his son had been waiting in line for about 70 minutes and were almost next to board when the leak began. “We were standing under the ride waiting when a steady trickle of water started flowing by our feet. We thought it was water from the ride above as water was dripping from the fountains on the ride,” he recounted, adding that the situation escalated into a puddle at their feet before they were ordered to leave. Keable expressed disappointment, stating that the lack of an offer for fast pass access, especially after their lengthy wait, added to the frustration of what he described as a “nightmare day at the park.” Ultimately, he noted that due to multiple rides being closed that day, they managed only five rides over ten hours.
Another visitor, Matthew Lancaster, 27, from Southport, Merseyside, also encountered the unforeseen challenges. He remarked, “I’m an avid theme park goer and it was very unfortunate what happened. That definitely wasn’t on the bucket list.”
Toxicator, previously referred to as Project Ocean, is notable for being the world’s only top spin ride elevated above ground level, standing at an impressive 78 feet tall. Following the burst pipe incident on Saturday, queries about the ride’s operational status on Sunday were addressed by Alton Towers, which confirmed that it was open and functioning normally with a reported queue time of 50 minutes.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/16/alton-towers-new-ride-shuts-first-day-leak-brown-liquid/ – This article corroborates the incident of Alton Towers’ new ride experiencing a leak of brown liquid on its opening day due to a burst pipe, which led to temporary operational suspension.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npcuaadIAkI – This video discusses Alton Towers’ 2025 opening day issues, including ride breakdowns and guest complaints, which aligns with the reported disruptions and visitor frustrations.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source is mentioned as providing the original information about the incident at Alton Towers, including visitor experiences and the park’s response to the burst pipe issue.
- https://www.alton-towers.com – Alton Towers’ official website would likely provide updates on ride statuses and any incidents affecting operations, such as the burst pipe incident near Toxicator.
- https://www.themeparkinsider.com – Theme park news sites often cover incidents and operational issues at parks like Alton Towers, potentially including details about the Toxicator ride and its opening day challenges.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news – BBC News might cover local incidents such as the Alton Towers burst pipe, providing additional context or updates on the situation.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative appears to be recent, referencing a specific incident on a Saturday. There is no indication of outdated information or recycled news.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes from visitors are included, but there is no clear evidence of these quotes being previously published. The lack of online references suggests they might be original.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a local news outlet, which generally provides reliable information. However, it is not a major national or international publication.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the incident and the ride’s features are plausible and consistent with typical theme park operations. The details provided align with what could be expected in such a scenario.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent and based on plausible events. The quotes seem original, and the source, while local, is generally reliable. Overall, the information presented is likely accurate.
