A device for transporting objects, preferably containers, along a transport path having: at least one guide track; first movement devices and second movement devices for transporting the objects, wherein the first movement devices and the second movement devices are guided and individually drivable along the at least one guide track alternately one behind the other, preferably by means of a long stator linear drive or a short stator linear drive, and a control unit which is configured to operate the device in a first operating mode and in a second operating mode, wherein: - in the first operating mode and in the second operating mode the objects are transported in each case by pairs which are formed in each case from one of the first movement devices and one of the second movement devices, - in the first operating mode, the pairs are formed such that the first movement device is positioned in a direction of the transport path upstream of the second movement device of the respective pair, and - in the second operating mode, the pairs are formed such that the second movement device is positioned in the direction of the transport path upstream of the first movement device of the respective pair wherein: the first movement devices and the second movement devices in each case have a first support portion (20, 24) which is oriented in the direction of the transport path and a second support portion (22, 26) which is oriented opposing the direction of the transport path, for supporting the objects during transport, characterized in that the first support portions of the first movement devices, the second support portions of the first movement devices, the first support portions of the second movement devices and the second support portions of the second movement devices are designed structurally the same. at least one guide track; first movement devices and second movement devices for transporting the objects, wherein the first movement devices and the second movement devices are guided and individually drivable along the at least one guide track alternately one behind the other, preferably by means of a long stator linear drive or a short stator linear drive, and a control unit which is configured to operate the device in a first operating mode and in a second operating mode, wherein: - in the first operating mode and in the second operating mode the objects are transported in each case by pairs which are formed in each case from one of the first movement devices and one of the second movement devices, - in the first operating mode, the pairs are formed such that the first movement device is positioned in a direction of the transport path upstream of the second movement device of the respective pair, and - in the second operating mode, the pairs are formed such that the second movement device is positioned in the direction of the transport path upstream of the first movement device of the respective pair - in the first operating mode and in the second operating mode the objects are transported in each case by pairs which are formed in each case from one of the first movement devices and one of the second movement devices, - in the first operating mode, the pairs are formed such that the first movement device is positioned in a direction of the transport path upstream of the second movement device of the respective pair, and - in the second operating mode, the pairs are formed such that the second movement device is positioned in the direction of the transport path upstream of the first movement device of the respective pair