Ballast Cleaning

Transforming rail asset performance

Ballast cleaning plays a vital role in effective track maintenance.

Implementing an effective ballast cleaning component to rail maintenance programs extends the dependability and performance of track assets, which delivers reliable services for customers across passenger, freight and mining sectors.  

As one of the only ballast cleaning specialists in the country, Swietelsky Rail Australia (SRA) has significant runs on the board  to demonstrate that our proactive approach to ballast rehabilitation continues to stand our clients in good stead.

Our mission revolves around being a reliable industry partner that meets and exceeds your expectations. Our dedicated team and state-of-the-art equipment are at your service, ensuring your projects are delivered on time and within budget.

SRA is the only rail maintenance company in Australia with ballast cleaning as its core activity. Coupled with our innovative approach to mechanised maintenance, this makes us one of a few companies with ballast rehabilitation capabilities at this level.

Right fit plant and equipment for ballast cleaning

When SRA was first established in Australia , we leveraged our decades long international experience to secure mechanised maintenance plant and equipment specifically for the Australian rail industry.

Initially this was the RM80 ballast cleaning machine, which has become affectionately known as a workhorse piece of plant, with a high level of reliability and efficiency.

From there we invested in a fully refurbished RM95, a two-section high-capacity ballast cleaning machine for both plain track and turnouts, as the extendable cutting bar allows the machine to ballast clean under switches and crossings. It also has the capability to install geofabric as it operates, providing improved rail asset performance benefits for clients. 

It is fully compliant with the narrow non-electric rolling stock outline, allowing it to work and travel within more networks across Australia.

The RM95 employs a swiveling main distribution conveyor belt so that the cleaned ballast is returned across the entire cross section of the track. This combined with a secondary lifting unit allows the rail to be 'copied' or improved through 3-dimensional measurement.

This leaves the cleaned track in a condition similar to when it had a first tamping pass performed, leaving the track close to design superelevation and line.

State-of-the-art machines delivering quality outcomes

SRA’s ballast cleaning machines are supported by two fleets of material handling wagons (an 8xMFC wagon consist and an 8xMFS consist). Utilising spoil wagons during ballast cleaning allows us to mitigate any resulting environmental impacts. Spoil material is unloaded at designated safe locations and the material is then used to upgrade access roads or stockpiled for alternative reuse options.

The Australian arm of the business has instilled Swietelsky’s long established culture of sustainable and recycling practices. SRA’s MFC wagons were fabricated by employing stock wagons originally used by the Hungarian Army freight wagon fleet. They were capable of transporting T-72 army tanks across rail networks. Outside of the military, the wagons were used for various special transport tasks including rail materials and sleepers.

“We have become known as ballast cleaning specialists In the Australian rail industry, due to not only our plant and equipment, but also our solutions-driven approach.” Managing Director, Anne Modderno.

RM95 RT High-Capacity Ballast Cleaning Machine

We are equipped with a RM95, which is a high output ballast cleaning machine for plain track and turnouts. The RM95 is the most powerful standard gauge ballast cleaning machine in the Plasser & Theurer production range. It is fitted with a high-capacity vibration screen with compensation of superelevation and data acquisition recorder.

RM80 UHR High Performance Ballast Cleaning Machine

The RM80 is a high-performance ballast cleaning machine for plain track and turnouts. It is fitted with a high-powered cutting chain and specially designed screening unit to ensure high working speeds, even in poor ballast conditions. The equipment is also fitted with a high-capacity vibration screen with compensation of superelevation and Data acquisition recorder.

MFC 45 Material Handling Wagons

The MFC 45 are single line spoil and material handling wagons, specially built and designed for use by SRA. The material conveyor and hopper units serve both to supply material and to transport the excavated material away without using the adjacent track. The excavated material can be unloaded to temporary storage sites or onto wagons/trucks via swivelling conveyor belts fitted to each wagon.

MFS Material Handling Wagons

The MFS material conveyor and hopper units serve both to supply material and to transport the excavated material away without using the adjacent track. The excavated material can be unloaded to temporary storage sites or onto wagons/trucks via swiveling conveyor belts.