A measuring cable travel sensor includes a housing and a cable drum which is arranged in the housing rotatably and longitudinally displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the travel sensor. The measuring cable is guided into and out of the housing through a stationary cable guide. The travel sensor has a longitudinal drive for displacing the cable drum, including a spindle drive comprising a screwthreaded spindle and a spindle nut screwable thereon. The longitudinal drive has an additional transmission for transmitting rotary movement of the cable drum to the spindle drive for producing cable drum displacement.