An applicator for the removal and attachment of a contact clip to a railway rail comprises an applicator body forming a clip seat to receive the contact clip, a thrust jaw suitable for engaging the clip housed in the clip seat, a contrast jaw suitable for engaging the foot of the rail, a thrust device for moving the thrust jaw towards the contrast jaw so as to push the contact clip housed in the clip seat in a thrust direction towards the contrast side, in which the clip seat is suitable for supporting the contact clip transversally to the thrust direction in an area between the thrust jaw and the contrast jaw.