Launch track

A launch track is always straight and is usually banked upwards slightly, so that a train would roll backwards to the station in the event of a loss of power.

A launch track serves the same basic purpose as a lift hill - providing power to the train - but accomplishes it in an entirely different manner.

A lift hill gives the train potential energy by raising it to the highest point in the track (and not significantly accelerating it).

A launch track gives the train kinetic energy by accelerating it to the maximum designed speed (while not significantly raising it).

An example of an Intamin manufactured launch system is the Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi, which accelerates the coaster train to its top speed of 240 km/h (150 mph) in approximately 5 seconds.

A friction wheel launch consists of a series of high speed drive tires used in succession to propel the train forward.