The invention discloses a method for hard overhead construction of a frame culvert of an existing railway. The method comprises the steps that firstly, symmetrically arranging two fulcrum hole diggingpiles on the two sides of each line; when the train travels slowly, horizontally arranging transverse lifting beams arranged below the line rails at intervals in a penetrating mode; transporting thelongitudinal beams to a construction site, placing the longitudinal beams in place and connecting the longitudinal beams with the transverse lifting beams under the condition of power failure of the contact net, slowing down the train, excavating a pilot tunnel at the position of a foundation pit to be excavated, and detecting the trend and position of an existing pipeline; conducting downward excavation at the position of a foundation pit to be excavated in a layered mode, wherein the excavation depth is 1.5-2 m each time, then arranging anchor rods on the side slope in a hit mode, hanging reinforcing meshes on the anchor rods, spraying concrete to form a stable protective layer till the design depth is met; sequentially constructing a foundation, a bottom plate, a side wall and a top plate of the frame culvert; and backfilling the transition section, dismounting the longitudinal beams , sequentially pulling the transverse lifting beams out from the slow moving points to complete construction. An excavation method of relay layered excavation and layered protection is adopted, stability of a foundation pit slope is guaranteed, and driving safety of an existing line is guaranteed.