The system for transferring rod-shaped articles comprises a reservoir for holding a plurality of rod-shaped articles and a conveyor band comprising a seat adapted to receive a rod-shaped article from the reservoir. The system further comprises a speed compensator for compensating a speed variation of a portion of the conveyor band such that a speed of another portion of the conveyor band is kept constant. There is also provided an arrangement for retaining rod-shaped articles in a conveyor band. The arrangement comprises a conveyor wheel, wherein the seat is guidable in the conveyor band around the conveyor wheel and comprises an offset conveyor band arranged in parallel and at a distance to the conveyor band along a section of the conveyor band.