Rail Transit Networks and Regional Spatial Structure in the Post-Urbanisation Context

Abstract

This paper examines the role of multi-level rail transit systems in supporting spatial restructuring during China’s post-urbanisation phase within the national framework of high-quality development. By comparing China’s urbanisation trajectory with international experiences, the study highlights the country’s unique challenge of balancing continued urban development with population decline, fiscal constraints, and regional disparities. It proposes a coordinated, multi-scalar optimisation framework encompassing regional transport corridors, metropolitan integration, and urban-scale structural reinforcement, favouring selective, structure-oriented interventions over large-scale expansion. Using the Shanghai Metropolitan Area as a case study, the research demonstrates how integrated rail transit networks, hierarchical hub systems, cross-jurisdictional cooperation, and coordinated governance can improve spatial balance, resource allocation, commuting efficiency, and sustainable urban transformation. The proposed framework offers a context-specific strategy for aligning rail transit planning with long-term regional development objectives in post-urbanisation settings.