Transverse rail switching element

A transverse rail switching element for switching a rail vehicle from a first position to a transversely removed second position, comprising:

• a vehicle shuttle having a first end, a second end, an upper surface and a lower surface and adapted to receive a rail vehicle at a first position and having at least one longitudinally extending intermediary rail on an upper surface, the at least one longitudinally extending intermediary rail configured to receive the rail vehicle when the vehicle shuttle is in the first position, the upper surface of the vehicle shuttle having braking means for decelerating the rail vehicle as the rail vehicle moves onto the at least one longitudinally extending intermediary rail of the vehicle shuttle, the lower surface of the vehicle shuttle having a vehicle shuttle bogie;
• a transverse track section extending from the first position to the transversely removed second position, the transverse track section substantially perpendicular to the at least one longitudinal extending intermediary rail when the vehicle shuttle is at the first position and when the vehicle shuttle is at the second position, wherein the first position and the second position are primarily separated horizontally, the transverse track section having secondary braking means for decelerating the vehicle shuttle as it moves from the first position to the transversely removed second position, the transverse track section having at least one rail component that engages with the vehicle shuttle bogie;
• and
• primary propulsion means adapted to translate the rail vehicle off of the vehicle shuttle.