PURPOSE: To safely pass a traveling carrying device traveled long a rail within a branched passage area.

CONSTITUTION: Safety sensors 8a-8c are provided within a branched passage area in the rail of a traveling carrying device 7, and when the traveling carrying device 7 is within the branched passage area, the operation of a branched rail driving device 5 is prohibited, and another traveling carrying device 7 is prevented from being advanced into the branched passage area on the basis of the operation information of the safety sensors 8a-8c. When the traveling carrying device 7 gets out of the branched passage area, travelings within the branched passage area and in an admission port are controlled by an external control device 1 so that the following traveling carrying device 7 can be immediately advanced into the branched passage area.