Ballasted track, which is widely used worldwide, is particularly susceptible to earthquake-induced damage and exhibit complex dynamic responses under seismic loading. Therefore, a comprehensive investigation of their seismic response from both micro and macro perspectives was conducted using the discrete element method. It was found that earthquakes disrupted the original force transmission mechanisms of the ballasted track, causing a redistribution of forces along the trajectory. With increasing peak ground acceleration (PGA), the number of force chains decreased. The displacement amplitude of the ballasted track decreased gradually with elevation, with the slope surface experiencing greater displacement than the center of the track bed. Additionally, the lateral ballast resistance of the ballast bed decreased approximately linearly with increasing PGA.