The invention relates to a method for replacing sleepers (4) of a track (7) having rails (6) and for cleaning ballast (11) exposed after the removal of the old sleepers (4), both rails (6) are raisedin order to move them away from the sleepers (4) situated therebeneath. The old sleepers (4) are turned individually or in pairs in the longitudinal direction of the track, lifted between the raised rails (6), and removed to be taken away. The exposed ballast (11) is picked up by a clearing device (12), cleaned and returned. Between a pick-up apparatus (13) and a returning apparatus (39) for the ballast (11), new sleepers (5), which are positioned in the longitudinal direction of the track, are lowered between the two raised rails (6), turned 90 degrees and connected to a rail foot of the raised rails (6) while being pressed against same.