Disclosed are an electromagnetic transverse active damping system, and a control method and apparatus therefor. The electromagnetic transverse active damping system comprises an electromagnet controller, wherein the electromagnet controller can determine a value of a damper target gap for an electromagnet active damper according to acquired train transverse acceleration, train position information and train speed, and control the action of the electromagnet active damper according to the determined value of the damper target gap; and electrical control is employed during the control of the electromagnet active damper by the electromagnet controller.