Method for compacting a ballast bed and device for carrying out the method

The invention relates to a method for compacting a ballast bed (1), in the upper region of which crossties (3) with rails (4) attached thereon are provided, wherein hollow spaces in the ballast structure (10) of the ballast bed are filled with a foamed material (11) made of a reactive mixture. In order to prevent the occurrence of insufficient heights of foamed material in the load transfer region (13) and also an overflow of foamed material over the crossties and rails, the method according to the invention provides that reactive mixture (8) is added to the ballast structure in such an amount that at least in the load transfer regions (13) a filling of the ballast structure with foamed material (11) is achieved that extends from the surface (2) of the earth to the bottom of the crossties(3), and that the foamed material (11) that expands during foaming is spatially limited in that, before concluding the foaming process, a cover (12) is arranged on or over the ballast bed (1). The invention further relates to