Method and apparatus for determining the condition of a track bed by means of a tamping assembly

A method for determining a condition of a track bed by way of a tamping unit, comprising the steps:

• displacing the tamping unit relative to the track bed between a retraction position, in which at least one compacting tool of the tamping unit is arranged outside the track bed, and a penetration position, in which the at least one compacting tool penetrates into the track bed;
• recording measured values of at least one measurand, which correlates with a vertical reaction force acting between the tamping unit and the track bed, at different measuring times;
• and
• determining the condition of the track bed based on at least two of the measured values recorded at different measuring times.

A device for determining a condition of a track bed, the device comprising:

• a tamping unit for compacting the track bed with at least one compacting tool for penetrating the track bed;
• a measuring device for recording measured values of at least one measurand, which correlates with a vertical reaction force acting between the tamping unit and the track bed, at different measuring times;
• and
• an evaluation device for determining the condition of the track bed on a basis of at least two of the measured values recorded at different measuring times.