ETF Ride Systems, a leading ride designer and manufacturer, has shared its insights into the benefits of trackless dark ride systems in theme parks, as the popularity of these indoor attractions continues to grow.
By catering to visitors of all ages, dark rides offer a way to engage a broader audience while maintaining a high uptime and dependable operation in all weather conditions. Operators can further enhance dark rides by adopting a trackless ride system, providing greater creative freedom and advantages in cost, versatility, maintenance and safety.
Physical & narrative flexibility
Trackless dark ride systems elevate creative potential and offer new possibilities in storytelling.
“Because the vehicles are not confined to fixed rails, designers can incorporate complex layouts: branching paths, intersections, and even overlapping or criss-crossing routes,” says a spokesperson from the company.
“This freedom enables more dynamic, non-linear storytelling, where each ride-through can be slightly different.”
In addition to encouraging repeat visits, this approach gives designers control over the ride’s pacing. As each vehicle moves independently, its speed can be altered across the ride, whether for dramatic effect or to manage visitor flow. By bringing together physical and narrative flexibility, trackless dark ride systems present a dynamic new toolkit for immersive ride experiences.
“There’s a common perception that trackless systems must be expensive to program and operate, especially when it comes to coordinating vehicle movements or designing advanced routes. In practice, these costs are in most cases even lower than the extensive infrastructure required for traditional tracked systems,” says the company.
The production and installation of steel track with automated switching mechanisms, for example, requires considerable engineering, programming and construction. Meanwhile, trackless systems require less installation time and labour by using flat surface preparation with guide wires or optical navigation.
Drawing on extensive experience, companies such as ETF Ride Systems often work with tested software and existing ride layouts. This improves dependability and makes development faster while minimising costs.
Their capacity to provide sophisticated ride behaviour without reinventing the wheel is a crucial element in making these systems more accessible.
Simpler maintenance & lower costs
Trackless systems are very simple to maintain once they are up and running. As every ETF vehicle has its own drive and control system, there are fewer external mechanical components to handle. Removing the need for rails and a ride control system reduces the number of failure-prone components and minimises wear and tear.
In addition, power handling is straightforward. The vehicles use rechargeable batteries and ususally operate for 12 to 14 hours on a full charge, providing an entire day of use while needing little daily upkeep. Batteries can be charged overnight.
Maintenance is also typically faster and more contained, which leads to both more uptime and better consistency in ride availability. The systems also offer practical safety benefits as vehicles can be programmed to automatically return to a station or safe zone in the event of a technical issue, even during power failures.
Furthermore, operators benefit from lower long-term costs.
“Although trackless systems are often assumed to require a higher initial investment due to their advanced technology, they are in fact typically more affordable from the start,” says the company.
“And when considering the full life cycle costs – including infrastructure, installation, maintenance, and staffing – they mostly prove to be the more economical choice. Their higher uptime and flexibility to adapt or reconfigure layouts over time further strengthen their value as a smart long-term investment.”
ETF Ride Systems recently exhibited at SEA Expo 2025, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 20 – 22 May. Visitors to the company’s booth can discover ETF’s latest developments. This includes the ETF Dynamic Mover, a new high-end vehicle for the trackless range, as well as its well-established and proven concepts, and current projects such as The Enchanted Greenhouse in Six Flags Qiddiya City.
