The apparatus for driving a divider element which is slidable linearly and/or in curves, and being optionally rotatable and parkable, comprises a drive assembly which is guided by two running wheels on a running surface of a rail, which drive assembly has a drive shaft driven by an electric motor and a gearing, the drive shaft being coupled by a toothed gear to a toothed belt connected to the rail, and which drive assembly is connectable by a load shaft to the divider element. According to the invention, the drive assembly has a traveling assembly unit with a traveling assembly body in which the drive shaft, emerging vertically downward from the drive assembly, and wheel shafts perpendicular thereto for the running wheels are held, and which traveling assembly body has a head piece which is detachably connected to a drive unit, in which the electric motor, and the gearing are arranged such that the drive shaft emerges vertically upward from the drive assembly so as to enable the toothed gear mounted on the drive shaft to engage the toothed belt retained above the running surface of the rail.