A transverse rail switching element for switching a rail vehicle from a first position to a transversely removed second position, comprising: an entry track section having at least one longitudinally extending entry rail, the entry track section located at the first position; 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 the first position and having at least one longitudinally extending intermediary rail on an upper surface, the at least one longitudinally extending intermediary rail communicating with the at least one longitudinally extending entry rail 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 from the entry rail section to 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 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, the transverse track section further including a generally horizontal first section, a sloped intermediary second section and a generally horizontal third section, the transverse track section having a transverse propulsion system adapted to translate the vehicle shuttle from the generally horizontal first section to at least the intermediary second section; at least one exit track section having at least one longitudinally extending exit rail, one of the at least one exit track section located at the transversely removed second position, the at least one longitudinally extending exit rail communicating with the at least one longitudinally extending intermediary rail when the vehicle shuttle is in the transversely removed second position; and primary propulsion means adapted to translate the rail vehicle from the vehicle shuttle to the at least one exit track section when the vehicle shuttle is in the transversely removed second position. an entry track section having at least one longitudinally extending entry rail, the entry track section located at the first position; 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 the first position and having at least one longitudinally extending intermediary rail on an upper surface, the at least one longitudinally extending intermediary rail communicating with the at least one longitudinally extending entry rail 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 from the entry rail section to 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 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, the transverse track section further including a generally horizontal first section, a sloped intermediary second section and a generally horizontal third section, the transverse track section having a transverse propulsion system adapted to translate the vehicle shuttle from the generally horizontal first section to at least the intermediary second section; at least one exit track section having at least one longitudinally extending exit rail, one of the at least one exit track section located at the transversely removed second position, the at least one longitudinally extending exit rail communicating with the at least one longitudinally extending intermediary rail when the vehicle shuttle is in the transversely removed second position; and primary propulsion means adapted to translate the rail vehicle from the vehicle shuttle to the at least one exit track section when the vehicle shuttle is in the transversely removed second position.