Railway under COVID-19: challenges, countermeasures, and strategies

Dewei Li, Songliang Zhang, Xiaoli Zhao, Han Gao and Peng Wu

Chapter 12 in Research Handbook on Transport and COVID-19, 2025, pp 233-255 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented considerable challenges for railway systems worldwide, impacting both intercity and urban rail transit. This study aims to analyze the short-term and long-term effects of COVID-19 on railway passenger transportation, assess the implemented countermeasures during the pandemic, and propose strategies for establishing a more resilient railway system. Initially, we review the spread of COVID-19 within railway systems from 2020 to 2023, examining the transmission characteristics and analyzing its impact on railway passenger markets in various representative regions globally. Subsequently, we delineate countermeasures against the pandemic, categorized as external and internal measures, spanning passenger services, case management, information dissemination, staff protocols, equipment enhancements, and operational adjustments. Furthermore, we investigate the enduring changes in passenger travel behavior in the new normal through a survey, elucidating the pandemic-induced alterations. We then propose the “5R” strategies for the railway industry, emphasizing resilience, recovery, reimagination, reform, and research. It is foreseeable that the railway industry will continue to evolve and flourish post-adaptation to these challenges. This study not only serves as a reference for the international railway sector but also provides insights for stakeholders in rail transportation systems to cope with similar public health crises in the future.

Keywords: COVID-19 transmission; Railway passenger transportation; Countermeasures against COVID-19; Travel behavior; Railway strategies; New normal; Public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781802208009
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