Maintaining and repairing thousands of kilometres of essential rail track and ballast is crucial for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the vital train network across Central Queensland. With a specialist undercutting team trained in hi-rail machine operation, Schwarz has been Australia’s leader in rail undercutting jobs for almost four decades.
We utilise innovative technology, significantly reducing rail downtime, transforming what traditionally took days into mere hours. Our machine’s ability to perform repairs without interrupting power flow ensures continuous rail operations, enhancing both efficiency and safety. This not only optimises maintenance schedules but also minimises disruptions to rail services, setting the standard in rail infrastructure management.
Ensure your rail tracks are maintained to the highest standard with Schwarz’s specialised undercutting services.
Hi-rail undercutting equipment allows specialised machinery to transition seamlessly from road to rail tracks. By mounting directly onto the rail lines, our excavators and specialised undercutting bars can extract fouled ballast continuously with extreme precision. This method eliminates the need to dismantle the actual rail track or overhead power infrastructure, dramatically accelerating the project timeline.
Over time, track ballast breaks down and becomes clogged with mud, fine dirt and coal dust. This buildup traps water, which softens the underlying ground and warps the track geometry. Mechanical undercutting completely clears away this packed, fouled material. Removing the mud and dust restores natural drainage, keeps the track structure dry and prevents costly structural track bed failures.
Yes. Our custom-configured hi-rail undercutting fleet is designed to operate safely within tight structural spaces. Because our machinery can work efficiently beneath live wires without disrupting overhead power lines, we can execute ballast maintenance without triggering massive electrical shutdowns. This keeps the surrounding network components fully operational.
Material handling is customised based on the rail corridor’s layout and environmental rules. Depending on the project requirements, our teams can either spoil the excavated waste material immediately adjacent to the track shoulder to re-profile the embankment, or coordinate with our integrated bulk haulage division to load, haul and transport the old ballast to an approved off-site disposal facility.
Schwarz is deeply rooted in the Central Queensland community, with decades of experience working across regional rail networks, including the Aurizon and Queensland Rail (QR) lines. Our strong local presence and understanding of regional infrastructure needs allow us to deliver tailored rail construction and maintenance solutions with efficiency, reliability, and care.
