A locking device for a sliding door system, comprising - a housing, -- wherein a locking drive in the form of a linear motor, having a stator and a runner that can be moved translationally relative to the stator, is arranged in a first housing interior (11.4), -- wherein a locking mechanism with a locking means is arranged in a second housing interior (11.5) separated from the first housing interior (11.4) by a housing wall, said locking means being movable back and forth between a release position and a locking position, -- and wherein the locking mechanism is coupled to the locking drive via at least one control element connected to the runner and guided through a guide opening in the housing wall, wherein the locking device is designed and configured to arrest a traction means of the sliding door system with a locking section of the locking means in the locking position and to release it in the release position, wherein -- the locking means is mounted so as to be linearly movable in order to move between the release position and the locking position perpendicular to a movement direction of the runner or wherein - the locking means is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis in order to move between the release position and the locking position. - a housing, -- wherein a locking drive in the form of a linear motor, having a stator and a runner that can be moved translationally relative to the stator, is arranged in a first housing interior (11.4), -- wherein a locking mechanism with a locking means is arranged in a second housing interior (11.5) separated from the first housing interior (11.4) by a housing wall, said locking means being movable back and forth between a release position and a locking position, -- and wherein the locking mechanism is coupled to the locking drive via at least one control element connected to the runner and guided through a guide opening in the housing wall, wherein the locking device is designed and configured to arrest a traction means of the sliding door system with a locking section of the locking means in the locking position and to release it in the release position, wherein -- the locking means is mounted so as to be linearly movable in order to move between the release position and the locking position perpendicular to a movement direction of the runner or wherein -- wherein a locking drive in the form of a linear motor, having a stator and a runner that can be moved translationally relative to the stator, is arranged in a first housing interior (11.4), -- wherein a locking mechanism with a locking means is arranged in a second housing interior (11.5) separated from the first housing interior (11.4) by a housing wall, said locking means being movable back and forth between a release position and a locking position, -- and wherein the locking mechanism is coupled to the locking drive via at least one control element connected to the runner and guided through a guide opening in the housing wall, wherein the locking device is designed and configured to arrest a traction means of the sliding door system with a locking section of the locking means in the locking position and to release it in the release position, wherein -- the locking means is mounted so as to be linearly movable in order to move between the release position and the locking position perpendicular to a movement direction of the runner or wherein - the locking means is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis in order to move between the release position and the locking position.