ARTICLE

Hi-Rail Crane Trucks for Faster Material Delivery

When rail possessions are tight and work windows are unforgiving, the right plant makes all the difference. Hi-rail crane trucks deliver road-to-rail agility with safe, precise lifts, helping crews move faster, reduce site risk, and keep programmes on track.

Anric Group Hi-Rail Crane Truck

What is a Hi-Rail Crane Truck?

A hi-rail crane truck (a road-rail vehicle, or RRV) is a truck fitted with rail guidance gear, hydraulic crane and a flat deck. It travels on roads like a normal crane truck, then deploys rail wheels to work on the railway tracks, combining transport, lifting, and materials handling in one unit. This dual-mode capability is why hi-rail trucks are a vital tool in modern rail maintenance and construction workflows.

 Why choose Hi-Rail Crane Trucks?

  • Fewer plant movements, more uptime. One machine to transport, position, and lift critical materials (rail, sleepers, turnouts, OLE components, gantries and pits) reduces interfaces and idle time.
  • Faster mobilisation. Drive to site, roll onto access pad on track, complete lifts, and deliveries —ideal for possessions and reactive works.
  • Safe working envelopes. Rail guidance improves positioning consistency on live corridors, while truck-mounted cranes provide controlled lifts in tight work sites.
  • Lower total cost. Consolidating transport + lifting + access reduces hire, escorting, and logistics costs across the shift.

     

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Where Hi-Rail Crane Trucks add value

Rail construction & renewals

  • Delivery and placement of any building material, precast components and large HV cable drums etc.
  • Overhead wiring (OLE) and structures, including mast base cages, structural steel, small gantries, pits and lids
  • Signal & comms, for cabinets, routes and cable drums, train stops, with controlled micro-lifts near sensitive assets
  • Ballast support & drainage, to move geofabrics, culverts, pits, and barriers to exact locations

Rail maintenance & response

  • Call-outs and make-safes, to clear obstructions, replace damaged elements, respond quickly post-incident
  • Targeted component swaps enabling replacements without bringing in larger cranes where not required
  • Access-constrained works, with predictable crane charts that minimise track plant

Civil & infrastructure projects (beond track)

  • Utilities & structures near corridors, including pits, pipe, precast, barriers, fencing, small bridges
  • Road-rail interfaces, with materials handling for level crossings, station upgrades, and precinct works
  • Staging yards & compounds, where self-sufficient loading/unloading keeps laydowns tidy and efficient
Anric Group Hi-Rail Crane Truck

  • Anric Group’s Hi-Rail Crane Truck advantage

    With decades delivering rail and civil projects across Australia, Anric pairs specialised RRVs with skilled operators and rail-savvy planning—so the gear does exactly what the program needs it to do. 

    • Right truck for the task. Dedicated Hi-Rail Crane Truck options (carrying capacity size on rail 5t, 9t and 15t) to match payload, reach, and site access.
    • Practical rail know-how. Methodologies aligned to possession windows, corridor constraints, and protection rules—cutting waiting time and rework
    • Integrated fleet. Pair crane trucks with hi-rail excavators, dumpers, MEWPs and trailers to streamline complex shifts under one call-up. (link to fleet)
    • New additions. With the addition of two new Hi Rail Crane Trucks to the fleet. These new hi rail trucks have the largest on road and on rail carrying capacity hi rail Trucks in Australia. With an unmatech 20t on rail payload and 15t on road payload. A very long tray at 9m of usable flat deck and the flexibility of a power tail that enables loading of vehicles from the ground to the back of the truck.

Choosing the right Hi-Rail Crane Truck for your shift

  • Lift plan & charts. What’s the heaviest pick, radius, and height? Any over-track lifts?
  • Access & formation. Road access, access pad, rail gradient, cess/shoulder condition, clearances to structures or infrastructure like train stops.
  • Payload mix. Rail components, pits/lids, OLE steel, drums—optimise tray use to reduce repeat trips.
  • Work window. Possession time, staging, and handback checks to prevent over-runs.
  • Interfaces. Pair with RRVs (excavators, dumpers, EWPs) and crew skills to de-conflict tasks.

Not sure which hi-rail crane truck fits your shift? Contact us and we will match the right unit and lift charts to your possession.

Ask us about our Hi-Rail Trucks
Anric hi rail crane truck 1

Results you can expect

  • Faster shifts through consolidated transport + lifting
  • Safer corridors with controlled positioning and fewer manual touches
  • Lower delivery risk via experienced operators and smart sequencing

Ready to move your program forward?

Book a hi-rail crane truck with Anric Group and get a lift plan, charts, and a shift-ready crew to match your possession.

Contact us and lock in availability for your next shutdown or night works.

Request a Quote