The M-2000 vehicles are magnetically propelled by the Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) which maintains a 6 inch clearance between the vehicle and the guideway. Details of the LSM system are described in Learning to Levitate. The distance between the vehicles on the M-2000 guideway is automatically maintained at a constant value, regardless of variations in drag force on the individual vehicles.

Most (over 90%) of the M-2000 guideway is a sequence of narrow beams that are elevated above the ground. The narrow beams rest on a line of piers. The M-2000 vehicles straddle the narrow beam. Superconducting magnets on each side of the vehicle magnetically interact with the guideway panels on each side of the beam, levitating and stabilizing the vehicle as it moves along the guideway.

The M-2000 vehicles can travel on both a narrow beam and planar guideway, and smoothly transition from one to the other. This dual guideway capability is possible because the vehicle has quadrupole superconducting magnets. When on the narrow beam the vertical sides of the quadrupole magnets magnetically interact with the loops on the sides of the narrow beam.

When on the planar guideway, the bottoms of the quadrupole magnets magnetically interact with the loops on the surface of the planar guideway.