KHEERAN Corporation delivers professional railway ballast investigation in Canada using multi-frequency Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Our hi-rail survey vehicles scan the track centre and both shoulders in a single pass. As a result, Canadian railway owners receive a continuous picture of ballast condition — without digging a single trench.

railway ballast investigation Canada — KHEERAN GPR hi-rail survey truck

Railway Ballast Investigation in Canada: Why It Matters

Canadian railways face some of the harshest operating conditions in the world. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles trap water in the ballast layer, while heavy grain, potash and mining traffic accelerates fouling. Consequently, drainage fails, track geometry deteriorates and maintenance costs climb. A structured railway ballast investigation in Canada identifies these problems early. Moreover, it shows maintenance planners exactly where undercutting, shoulder cleaning or drainage remediation will deliver the greatest return.

Multi-Frequency GPR, Proven in Cold Climates

KHEERAN surveys combine 400 MHz and 2 GHz antennas mounted on hi-rail platforms. High-frequency horn antennas detect fouling through void-scattering analysis. Meanwhile, low-frequency antennas map deep substructure layers, ballast pockets and trapped water. GPS positioning and video mapping tie every metre of data to your chainage. Furthermore, our reporting supports compliance with the Transport Canada Rules Respecting Track Safety.

What Your Railway Ballast Investigation Delivers

Every KHEERAN survey produces decision-ready outputs:

  • Fouling classification, from clean to highly fouled, reported by chainage.
  • Clean-ballast thickness profiles for the centre and both shoulders.
  • Trapped-water and ballast-pocket flags for drainage planning.
  • GIS condition maps and prioritized remediation recommendations.

First-pass results arrive within 24 hours of survey completion. Therefore, your team can act while the equipment is still on the subdivision.

Canada-Wide Coverage, One Point of Contact

KHEERAN operates across Canada — from busy transit corridors to remote mining railways. In addition, our ballast investigation service integrates seamlessly with our track geometry and LiDAR asset scanning programs. Ready to plan a railway ballast investigation in Canada? Contact KHEERAN today for a survey scope and quote.