Abstract: To comprehensively examine the safety, reliability, and rationality of disaster prevention, evacuation, and rescue design technology systems in China′s railway tunnels and to further improve national disaster rescue performance, the authors compare China′s railway tunnel disaster prevention and rescue design technology systems with those of other countries. This comparison is based on extensive standards, focusing on design concepts, technical systems, and technical specifications. The results indicate the following: (1) The design concepts of disaster prevention, evacuation, and rescue in China′s railway tunnels are scientific, advanced, and largely consistent with international practices. China′s design technology system is comprehensive and aligns well with international standards, reflecting a technical level comparable to that of developed countries. Additionally, China′s technical standards incorporate unique characteristics tailored to its current railway operation framework, tunnel scale, and management model. (2) Verified by extensive engineering applications, China′s established design technology system is highly safe, reliable, and rational. Recommendations to further improve the safety and emergency response capabilities of China′s railway tunnel disaster prevention and rescue design technology systems include optimizing the evacuation design of emergency rescue stations within tunnels; refining the design of disaster prevention, evacuation, and rescue projects; and enhancing emergency response plans.

Key words: railway tunnels, disaster prevention, evacuation, and rescue system, technical standards, design methods