Evaluating High-Speed Rail Operation Safety through an Integrated Framework: A Case Study in China

Currently, high-speed railroad operation safety, one of the safest modes of transportation, is highly emphasized. Despite the high safety levels of high-speed rail in China, the increasing complexity of geographical and social environments has introduced new challenges to the evaluation of high-speed railroad operation safety. Existing evaluation methods, which have some limitations, may not fully address these challenges. Therefore, this study establishes a six-dimensional comprehensive evaluation indicator system, including personal, equipment, quality, legal, environmental, and monitoring, and proposes a three-stage comprehensive evaluation framework. This new framework combines the best–worst method, Decision-Making Test and Evaluation Laboratory, and interpretive structural modeling. In addition, the framework was validated with the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway as a typical case of dual complexity. The study findings suggest that equipment and monitoring factors, classified as effect and cause groups, exert the most significant influence on operational safety. Optimal management strategies enhance operational safety by prioritizing risk monitoring, disseminating risk knowledge, conducting regular equipment inspections, and ensuring train condition. This study helps to identify the key factors for enhancing operation safety, optimizing safety management efficiency, and providing broad insights for high-speed railroad operation managers and decision-makers.