A selectively operable braking device for an elevator system including a car and a guide rail, comprising: a safety brake adapted to be disposed on the car and adapted to be wedged against the guide rail when moved from a non-braking state into a braking state; a rod operably coupled to the safety brake, the rod configured to move the safety brake between the non-braking state and braking state; a magnetic brake operably coupled to the rod and adapted to be disposed adjacent to the guide rail, the magnetic brake configured to move between an engaging position and a non-engaging position, the magnetic brake, when in the engaging position contemporaneously with motion of the car, configured to move the rod in a direction to thereby move the safety brake from the non-braking state into the braking state due to the relative upward movement of the magnetic brake relative to the descending elevator car; an electromagnetic component, wherein the electromagnetic component is configured to hold the magnetic brake with a hold power in the non-engaging position, wherein the electromagnetic component is configured to release the magnetic brake into the engaging position upon reduction of the hold power; and characterized by further comprising a magnet disposed within or adjacent to the magnetic brake, configured to magnetically couple the magnetic brake to the electromagnetic component in the non-engaging position and to the guide rail in the engaging position, wherein a magnetic attraction force of the magnetic brake to the electromagnetic component combines with the hold power in an additive fashion to hold the magnetic brake in the non-engaging position. a safety brake adapted to be disposed on the car and adapted to be wedged against the guide rail when moved from a non-braking state into a braking state; a rod operably coupled to the safety brake, the rod configured to move the safety brake between the non-braking state and braking state; a magnetic brake operably coupled to the rod and adapted to be disposed adjacent to the guide rail, the magnetic brake configured to move between an engaging position and a non-engaging position, the magnetic brake, when in the engaging position contemporaneously with motion of the car, configured to move the rod in a direction to thereby move the safety brake from the non-braking state into the braking state due to the relative upward movement of the magnetic brake relative to the descending elevator car; an electromagnetic component, wherein the electromagnetic component is configured to hold the magnetic brake with a hold power in the non-engaging position, wherein the electromagnetic component is configured to release the magnetic brake into the engaging position upon reduction of the hold power; and characterized by further comprising a magnet disposed within or adjacent to the magnetic brake, configured to magnetically couple the magnetic brake to the electromagnetic component in the non-engaging position and to the guide rail in the engaging position, wherein a magnetic attraction force of the magnetic brake to the electromagnetic component combines with the hold power in an additive fashion to hold the magnetic brake in the non-engaging position.