Prior art vacuum switches are merely for turning on and off a circuit and does not take into account circuit switching. A vacuum relay (1) is provided with an insulating cylinder (2), a first relay contact part (4) mounted on one end of the insulating cylinder (2) and having a first contact (3) on the internal side, a second relay contact part (5) disposed inside the insulating cylinder (2) and facing the first relay contact part (4), a moving member (7) movably disposed between the first relay contact part (4) and the second relay contact part (5) and having a second contact (6) contacting the first contact (3) when moved toward the side of the first relay contact part, and an operation mechanism (8) for driving the moving member (7). A third relay contact part (10) having a third contact (9) is disposed between the second relay contact part and the first relay contact part. The moving member (7) is provided with a fourth contact for contacting the third contact when the first contact and the second contact are not in contact with each other.