In a linear induction motor, three-phase coils (61, 62, 63) wound around a primary core (5) are excited according to a three-phase excitation mode for producing a shifting magnetic field thereby causing traveling movement of a secondary conductor (2), a plurality of perforations (21) are provided in the secondary conductor, and, when it is required to stop the secondary conductor at a desired stop position, current supply to the coil of one phase is interrupted by switches to change over the excitation mode to a single-phase excitation mode thereby producing a positioning force as a result of the coaction between magnetic fields and currents induced around the perforations (21).