A system for transferring elevator cars from a first elevator shaft to a second elevator shaft , the system comprising: a first propulsion system configured to move a first elevator car through the first elevator shaft ; a transfer carriage configured to move the first elevator car and the first propulsion system from the first elevator shaft to the second elevator shaft through a transfer station (310a; 310b), the transfer carriage comprising: an elevator car containment slot to receive the first elevator car and the first propulsion system when the elevator car containment slot is aligned with the first elevator shaft , wherein the first propulsion system is configured to move the first elevator car and the first propulsion system from an elevator system within the first elevator shaft onto the transfer carriage to a vehicle workstation , wherein the vehicle workstation is located within the second elevator shaft ; characterised in that the transfer carriage is configured to move from the second elevator shaft to a third elevator shaft through the transfer station (310a; 310b) to receive a second elevator car and a second propulsion system from a spare vehicle station ; and wherein the transfer carriage is configured to move with the second elevator car and the second propulsion system within the elevator car containment slot from the third elevator shaft into service. a first propulsion system configured to move a first elevator car through the first elevator shaft ; a transfer carriage configured to move the first elevator car and the first propulsion system from the first elevator shaft to the second elevator shaft through a transfer station (310a; 310b), the transfer carriage comprising: an elevator car containment slot to receive the first elevator car and the first propulsion system when the elevator car containment slot is aligned with the first elevator shaft , wherein the first propulsion system is configured to move the first elevator car and the first propulsion system from an elevator system within the first elevator shaft onto the transfer carriage to a vehicle workstation , wherein the vehicle workstation is located within the second elevator shaft ; characterised in that the transfer carriage is configured to move from the second elevator shaft to a third elevator shaft through the transfer station (310a; 310b) to receive a second elevator car and a second propulsion system from a spare vehicle station ; and wherein the transfer carriage is configured to move with the second elevator car and the second propulsion system within the elevator car containment slot from the third elevator shaft into service. an elevator car containment slot to receive the first elevator car and the first propulsion system when the elevator car containment slot is aligned with the first elevator shaft , wherein the first propulsion system is configured to move the first elevator car and the first propulsion system from an elevator system within the first elevator shaft onto the transfer carriage to a vehicle workstation , wherein the vehicle workstation is located within the second elevator shaft ; characterised in that the transfer carriage is configured to move from the second elevator shaft to a third elevator shaft through the transfer station (310a; 310b) to receive a second elevator car and a second propulsion system from a spare vehicle station ; and wherein the transfer carriage is configured to move with the second elevator car and the second propulsion system within the elevator car containment slot from the third elevator shaft into service. <EOS>