An apparatus for controlling motion of multiple movers along a track, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of movers, wherein each mover is independently controlled to move along the track and wherein each mover includes a plurality of permanent magnets mounted to the mover and operative to propel the mover along the track responsive to an electromagnetic field; a plurality of track segments (12, 14), wherein the plurality of track segments define the track and wherein each track segment includes: a DC bus having a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail, wherein each of the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail conduct a different voltage potential; a plurality of coils distributed along a length of the track segment, wherein each coil generates at least a portion of the electromagnetic field propelling each mover along the track; and at least one switching module including a plurality of switching devices, wherein each switching device is operatively connected between one of the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail and one of the plurality of coils to selectively connect one of the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail to the corresponding coil, wherein: a first switching device and a second switching device, each selected from the plurality of switching devices, are located next to each other within the switching module, the first switching device is connected to a first coil, selected from the plurality of coils, the second switching device is connected to a second coil, selected from the plurality of coils, and at least one additional coil is located along the length of the track segment between the first and second coils. a plurality of movers, wherein each mover is independently controlled to move along the track and wherein each mover includes a plurality of permanent magnets mounted to the mover and operative to propel the mover along the track responsive to an electromagnetic field; a plurality of track segments (12, 14), wherein the plurality of track segments define the track and wherein each track segment includes: a DC bus having a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail, wherein each of the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail conduct a different voltage potential; a plurality of coils distributed along a length of the track segment, wherein each coil generates at least a portion of the electromagnetic field propelling each mover along the track; and at least one switching module including a plurality of switching devices, wherein each switching device is operatively connected between one of the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail and one of the plurality of coils to selectively connect one of the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail to the corresponding coil, wherein: a first switching device and a second switching device, each selected from the plurality of switching devices, are located next to each other within the switching module, the first switching device is connected to a first coil, selected from the plurality of coils, the second switching device is connected to a second coil, selected from the plurality of coils, and at least one additional coil is located along the length of the track segment between the first and second coils. a DC bus having a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail, wherein each of the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail conduct a different voltage potential; a plurality of coils distributed along a length of the track segment, wherein each coil generates at least a portion of the electromagnetic field propelling each mover along the track; and at least one switching module including a plurality of switching devices, wherein each switching device is operatively connected between one of the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail and one of the plurality of coils to selectively connect one of the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail to the corresponding coil, wherein: a first switching device and a second switching device, each selected from the plurality of switching devices, are located next to each other within the switching module, the first switching device is connected to a first coil, selected from the plurality of coils, the second switching device is connected to a second coil, selected from the plurality of coils, and at least one additional coil is located along the length of the track segment between the first and second coils. a first switching device and a second switching device, each selected from the plurality of switching devices, are located next to each other within the switching module, the first switching device is connected to a first coil, selected from the plurality of coils, the second switching device is connected to a second coil, selected from the plurality of coils, and at least one additional coil is located along the length of the track segment between the first and second coils.