In mountainous areas, a large number of rock cut slopes have been left due to railway constructions. Our previous investigations have demonstrated that the artificial soil has been polluted by Pb significantly. Re-vegetation time and vegetation modes are important factors that influenced the migration characteristics of Pb in the artificial soil. However, little is known regarding the effects of these factors on the migration characteristics of Pb and its mechanisms. In this paper, the adsorption and desorption characteristics of Pb in the artificial soils have been studied with microwave digestion-atomic absorption spectroscopy and infrared spectrum. The migration process of Pb in the artificial soils on the slopes with different vegetation modes were analyzed by artificial rainfall experiments. The results indicated that the adsorption amount of Pb increased with the increasing equilibrium concentration of Pb, and the isothermal curve liked "S". Freundlich equation could better fit the adsorption process of Pb in the artificial soils (R2=0.91). Power function equation could better fit the desorption process of Pb by NH4AC(R2=0.96). The infrared spectra of the artificial soil were kaolinite spectrum with characteristic absorption peaks of Kaolinite. The functional groups which were —OH on the surface of kaolinite and —OH and —COOH on the surface of humus played major roles in the adsorption process of Pb. Hence Pb from transportation can be immobilized with the artificial soil but it may be released out secondarily with the change of environmental factors. The loss of Pb in the runoff and sediment from slopes with different vegetation modes showed the order as grass＞grass-shrub＞grass-shrub-arbor. The loss of Pb from sediment was much higher than that from runoff. The erosion of the artificial soils on the slops played the main role on the migration of Pb. Therefore, effective measures should be taken to reduce the erosion of the artificial soils. Besides, the diffusion of Pb can be reduced and the impact of Pb to environment can be minimized.