In May, the passenger transportation volume of urban rail increased by 2.4% year-on-year, while the passenger transportation intensity decreased for the fourth consecutive month.

Recently released data from the Ministry of Transportation shows that in May 2026, the total passenger volume of the 54 cities with opened rail transit in the country was 2.94 billion, a decrease of 50 million compared to the previous month, a decrease of 1.7%, an increase of 70 million compared to the same period last year, a growth of 2.4%, which is lower than the 4.9% growth in April. In May, the average passenger intensity of the total operating mileage in the country was 0.804 million passengers per kilometer per day, a decrease of 4.6% compared to the same period last year, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline since February this year. According to experts from the China Urban Rail Transit Association, the main reason for the decline in the average passenger intensity of urban rail transit nationwide is the continuous expansion of operating mileage, with the supply increment of new lines far exceeding the growth rate of passenger flow. From the perspective of the development law of the urban rail transit industry, there is a period of about three years for passenger growth after the opening of new urban rail lines. In the initial stage of the opening of new lines, due to factors such as surrounding city development, population inflow, commercial matches, and transfer connections, the initial passenger intensity can only reach 30%-50% of that of mature lines in the same city. After a large number of new lines are opened, the growth rate of operating mileage far exceeds the growth rate of passenger volume, directly lowering the national average passenger intensity. In addition, the diversification of travel methods and changes in the travel habits of the general public also affect the growth of urban rail transit passenger flow.