A method is for operating a vehicle of a magnetic levitation railway on a route which is fitted with a stator with a stator winding. There is provision for the time profile of the strength of the current to be measured in each provided supply phase of the stator winding. In addition, in the region of the respective supply phase on the route, the time profile of the magnetic flux of the magnetic leakage field emanating from the vehicle is measured. The force acting on the vehicle is then determined from current strength values, assigned magnetic fluxes and a motor constant of the vehicle. The force which is determined is compared with a threshold value and when the force deviates greatly the energy supply to the stator winding is interrupted.