Subgrade bedding is a key element of railway structure in stability and durability, and it is almost made of soil cement. The dielectric constant, compaction and curing ages of soil cement with different moisture contents were measured. The relation among curing ages, moisture content, compaction of soil cement and electromagnetic features was analyzed. The model of layered soil cement was established to simulate ground-penetrating radar (GPR) electromagnetic waves in the soil cement. The variation rules of dielectric constant and amplitude of radar signals were obtained. The electromagnetic features, i.e. velocity, frequency and amplitude, were analyzed. Ground-penetrating radar was used to detect the railway subgrade soil layer. Based on the center line of the subgrade, there were nine detection lines for every 1[Formula: see text]m to detect the density and smoothness of the subgrade soil layer. Based on the radar wave events and reflected waves, the subgrade condition can be judged.