A linear motor having a magnetic circuit and a moving coil, the magnetic circuit comprising a linear yoke provided at the center of the circuit and a pair of linear magnets, the linear yoke and the pair of linear magnets forming a pair of linear gaps with the linear yoke interposed therebetween, the magnetic circuit applying a magnetic field to the linear gaps, the movable coil mounted on the linear yoke of the magnetic circuit being moved along the linear yoke by an electromagnetic action to the magnetic circuit when the movable coil is powered, wherein the linear magnet has a larger magnetic force at opposite end portions in the longitudinal direction of the linear magnet than at an intermediate area, the magnetic reluctance of the magnetic circuit is made large to obtain a driving current of the movable coil corresponding to the magnetic reluctance when the moving coil moves at the intermediate area of the linear magnet, or the magnetic circuit is mounted on a plate made of material having the same magnetic reluctance as the linear yoke. An information recording/reproducing apparatus having a card transport stage for transporting an information recording medium and a laser unit for radiating a laser beam to the information recording medium, the information recording/reproducing apparatus writing and reading information to and from the information recording medium while reciprocally moving the card transport stage and linearly and reciprocally moving the information recording medium and applying a laser beam to the information recording medium, wherein the apparatus comprising a transport unit wherein the plane of driving force by driving means for reciprocally moving the card transport stage is made substantially flush with the center of a guide shaft for sliding the transport stage.