Multiple servo sensors are laterally displaced over a distance less than the transverse width of timing based servo track laterally extending transitions. The servo sensors are configured to sense the transitions, and servo detection logic detects the relative timings of the laterally extending transitions sensed by the laterally displaced servo sensors as the magnetic tape is moved in the longitudinal direction. Logic is configured to determine from the relative timings of the sensed transitions for at least one known set of laterally extending transitions having differing slants, the lateral position of a servo sensor by employing the relative timing detected from one servo sensor and the relative timing detected from another servo sensor, or determine the longitudinal velocity of the magnetic tape by determining the difference between the relative timing detected from one servo sensor and the relative timing detected from another servo sensor.