Abstract: A speed control system for controlling the speed of a vehicle traveling on a guideway comprising, in combination, a plurality of linear motor windings disposed along the guideway, a corresponding secondary mounted on the vehicle for inductively interacting with the proximate ones of said windings, sensing means disposed adjacent said windings for sensing the proximity of said secondary and for gating an alternating electrical signal to said adjacent winding, measuring means disposed adjacent said sensing means for measuring the rate of progression of said vehicle along said guideway, error detection means connected to said measuring means for producing an error signal in equal integer increments corresponding to the deviation of the vehicle rate from a preselected rate and commutation means connected to receive said error signal for commutating said alternating electrical signal to said adjacent winding in equal increments of power corresponding to said error signal.