Research on the Impact of Urban Rail Transit Network Topology on Transfer Convenience: Evidence from 50 Cities Worldwide

Qing Li, Zhenjun Zhu (), Yunpeng Zhao, Xuhui Zhang, Xinyu Hu and Wenzhe Xiong
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Qing Li: College of Automobile and Traffic Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Zhenjun Zhu: College of Automobile and Traffic Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Yunpeng Zhao: Qingdao Train Depot of China Railway Jinan Bureau Group Co., Ltd., Qingdao 266000, China
Xuhui Zhang: Nanjing Metro Group Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210008, China
Xinyu Hu: College of Automobile and Traffic Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Wenzhe Xiong: College of Automobile and Traffic Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-22

Abstract: Previous research on urban rail transit (URT) transfer convenience mainly focused on the transfer stations, often neglecting the impact of network topology. This paper uses the transfer convenience index to characterize the transfer convenience and extracts the topological indicators, including the collinearity degree, from the URT networks of fifty global cities. Leveraging a back propagation neural network model integrated with SHAP, the study analyzes the transfer convenience and influencing factors of the URT network. Our findings reveal a threshold effect of the collinearity degree on transfer convenience. When the collinearity degree is disregarded, the relationship between the transfer convenience index and the number of transfer stations predominantly aligns with an exponential function model. When the transfer station number exceeds 15, the transfer convenience index reaches its maximum in a ring–radial morphology. The conclusion could help urban planners understand the changing rules of transfer convenience in the URT network, guiding strategic decisions on transfer station placement and network morphology selection.

Keywords: urban rail transit; network topology; transfer convenience; back propagation neural network; SHAP (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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