Transport means, comprising: a transport track comprising at least one passive switch; at least one transport element (110; 210; 410) which is movably arranged on the transport track; a plurality of sensors arranged along the transport track; and a control unit; wherein the passive switch comprises a main track and first and second diverging branch tracks; wherein the transport track comprises the following elements in the region of the passive switch: a first guide rail (140-1; 240-1; 440-1; 540-1), a second guide rail (140-2; 240-2; 440-2; 540-2) located opposite the first guide rail in the region of the main track, a first linear motor phase (150-1; 250-1; 350-1; 450-1) arranged in parallel with the first guide rail and a second linear motor phase (150-2; 250-2; 350-2; 450-2) arranged in parallel with the second guide rail; wherein the transport element (110; 210; 410) has a reaction element (270; 370; 470) comprising at least one permanent magnet and/or non-switching electromagnet (271, 272; 471, 472) that is preferably oriented transversely to the transport track, wherein the transport element (110; 210; 410) can be moved along the transport track by means of the permanent magnet and/or non-switching electromagnet interacting with the first and/or second linear motor phase, wherein the first and the second guide rail are stationary in the region of the passive switch; and wherein the control unit is designed to determine a position of the transport element in an inlet of the passive switch by means of the plurality of sensors. a transport track comprising at least one passive switch; at least one transport element (110; 210; 410) which is movably arranged on the transport track; a plurality of sensors arranged along the transport track; and a control unit; wherein the passive switch comprises a main track and first and second diverging branch tracks; wherein the transport track comprises the following elements in the region of the passive switch: a first guide rail (140-1; 240-1; 440-1; 540-1), a second guide rail (140-2; 240-2; 440-2; 540-2) located opposite the first guide rail in the region of the main track, a first linear motor phase (150-1; 250-1; 350-1; 450-1) arranged in parallel with the first guide rail and a second linear motor phase (150-2; 250-2; 350-2; 450-2) arranged in parallel with the second guide rail; wherein the transport element (110; 210; 410) has a reaction element (270; 370; 470) comprising at least one permanent magnet and/or non-switching electromagnet (271, 272; 471, 472) that is preferably oriented transversely to the transport track, wherein the transport element (110; 210; 410) can be moved along the transport track by means of the permanent magnet and/or non-switching electromagnet interacting with the first and/or second linear motor phase, wherein the first and the second guide rail are stationary in the region of the passive switch; and wherein the control unit is designed to determine a position of the transport element in an inlet of the passive switch by means of the plurality of sensors. a first guide rail (140-1; 240-1; 440-1; 540-1), a second guide rail (140-2; 240-2; 440-2; 540-2) located opposite the first guide rail in the region of the main track, a first linear motor phase (150-1; 250-1; 350-1; 450-1) arranged in parallel with the first guide rail and a second linear motor phase (150-2; 250-2; 350-2; 450-2) arranged in parallel with the second guide rail; wherein the transport element (110; 210; 410) has a reaction element (270; 370; 470) comprising at least one permanent magnet and/or non-switching electromagnet (271, 272; 471, 472) that is preferably oriented transversely to the transport track, wherein the transport element (110; 210; 410) can be moved along the transport track by means of the permanent magnet and/or non-switching electromagnet interacting with the first and/or second linear motor phase, wherein the first and the second guide rail are stationary in the region of the passive switch; and wherein the control unit is designed to determine a position of the transport element in an inlet of the passive switch by means of the plurality of sensors.