Abstract: Objective: Terminal station turnback capacity is a critical factor determining the overall transportation capacity of urban rail transit lines. Therefore, it is necessary to study the turnback capacity of existing terminal stations, analyze the main factors limiting the turnback capacity, and optimize the operation organization mode. Method: Taking Shanghai Rail Transit Line 1 Fujin Road Station as an example, its turnback mode is analyzed. First, the station layout and key turnback points are introduced. The time interval between each key point is calculated. Then, the prestation turnback, poststation turnback and alternate turnback three modes are analyzed, the time interval data required at each key point of the above three is calculated. Finally, the alternate turnback mode is optimized by artificially extending the train dwell time on poststation turnback track, adjusting the arrival and departure intervals of all trains to the same duration. Result & Conclusion: The efficiency of single prestation turnback is relatively low, and the turnback time interval is linearly related to the dwell time at intermediate platforms on turnback track. Compared to single prestation turnback, single poststation turnback has higher turnback efficiency, while there exists the same linear correlation. In the alternate turnback mode, the running time for poststation turnback train is relatively ample, resulting in its longer dwell time on turnback track. The optimized interval for the alternate turnback mode is 110.28 seconds.