A new linear permanent-magnet (PM) motor, termed as modular linear flux-reversal PM (M-LFRPM) motor, is proposed. This is particularly attractive for high reliability urban rail transit. Its PM materials and armature windings are set in the mover (train), while the long stator (rail) is composed of irons, hence improving efficiency and reducing cost. The key of the proposed motor incorporates the concept of fault-tolerant teeth to provide the desired decoupling among phases. The structure and features of the proposed motor are presented, and an optimal design is performed. By using finite element method, the advantages and validity of the proposed motor are verified. The analysis results show that the proposed M-LFRPM motor not only retains the advantages of the conventional LFRPM motor, but also improves its fault-tolerant capability.