A system determines the position of a vehicle moving responsive to an inverter having a 360 degree electrical cycle. The system includes a guideway comprising a linear synchronous motor excited by the inverter, a MAGLEV adapted to move with respect to the guideway and the linear synchronous motor, and a reflective pattern disposed along the guideway. A laser light source is coupled to the MAGLEV and directs light toward the pattern. A light sensor is coupled to the MAGLEV and senses the light from the light source which is reflected from the pattern. The light sensor outputs a plurality of pulses corresponding to movement of the MAGLEV with respect to the pattern. A modulator, radio transmitter, radio receiver, demodulator and wayside processor cooperate with the light sensor. The processor determines the position of the MAGLEV by accumulating the pulses. The position corresponds to the 360 degree electrical cycle.