PURPOSE: To shorten an action time for rereading by counting tape running distance at the time of data block reading and rereading by setting back only counted distance to a tape.

CONSTITUTION: When a magnetic tape is running in normal direction, tachopulse detection signals F go to output signals G by an AND circuit 11 and are inputted to the up count terminal of a counter circuit 14 and data in a block are read out. The final count value of the counter circuit 14 corresponds to the running distance of the tape. When data error occurs in the reading operation, an instruction for reverse running A2 is given to a control circuit 5. A capstan 7 is rotated reversely, the counter circuit 14 is counted down, and the reverse running of the tape 8 stops at the zero point. The head is placed at the position of IBG between data blocks 2 of the tape.