Abstract: In the magnetic suspension railway disclosed, electrically-controlled carrier magnets, located on opposite sides under a railway car and coupled to two stationary magnetic carrier rails levitate the car. Electrically controlled, guide magnets, fixed under the car on both sides, guide the car between magnetic guide rails. The carrier and guide magnets for each side of the car are mounted on two mounts extending longitudinally underneath the car and facing the support and guide rails. Guiding the car onto one path or the other through a switch area at a fork is accomplished by deactivating only the guide magnets on one side of the car. At the switch area fixed support magnets in one of two rows between the rails appear above the one of an auxiliary rail projecting from the mount holding the deactivated guide magnet. The auxiliary rail is displaced from the vertical relative to the electromagnetic row into a magnetically asymmetrical position.