Rail Surveying

Railtrain Holdings Group (RHG) delivers specialist rail surveying services through our division, McDonald Surveys. Highly experienced and with a strong reputation for technical expertise, McDonald Surveys provides comprehensive rail surveying and technical engineering solutions across Australia’s passenger, freight, and heavy haul networks.

From feasibility studies to detailed construction and maintenance support, McDonald Surveys delivers the precision and reliability needed to build, maintain, and operate safe, efficient rail infrastructure.

Discover more about McDonald Surveys’ full capabilities by visiting McDonald Surveys.

Comprehensive Rail Surveying Solutions

McDonald Surveys offers a full suite of rail surveying services to support both brownfield and greenfield construction and maintenance projects. Using the latest high-precision GNSS equipment, 3D laser scanning, total stations, and mobile mapping systems, we deliver accurate and actionable data.

Services include:

  • Track alignment and geometry surveys
  • Construction set-out and verification
  • As-built surveys
  • Monitoring and deformation surveys
  • Shutdown planning and operational support
  • Rail measurement and machine control support

Our multi-disciplined team works safely within live rail environments while minimising disruption to operations. Data is delivered in multiple formats, including traditional survey outputs, 3D models, and BIM-ready datasets.

Specialist Services for Rail Projects

McDonald Surveys provides tailored support for complex rail projects, including:

  • High-accuracy control networks
  • Corridor mapping and GIS services
  • 3D visualisations and interactive site walkthroughs
  • Civil and rail design survey support for new construction, renewals, and realignments

Fast, accurate, and integrated data solutions help clients make informed decisions at every stage of the project lifecycle.

Dilapidation Surveys

McDonald Surveys specialises in dilapidation surveys that document the pre- and post-condition of assets and structures surrounding construction and maintenance works.

These surveys provide independent, verifiable records of existing conditions, including high-quality photographic and written reports, as well as 3D spherical imagery walkthroughs. This service is essential for projects near sensitive structures and both public and privately owned assets, helping to mitigate risk and support dispute resolution if required.