Objective Against the background of four-network（trunk railway network, intercity railway network, suburban railway network, urban rail transit network）integration in rail transit, although physical connections have been basically achieved among different rail transit modes, prominent problems still exist in soft connectivity such as coordinated operation and management. To realize the integrated development of multi-level rail transit, it is necessary to clarify the connotation and key difficulties of soft connectivity of rail transit operation and management in metropolitan area under the background of four-network integration.

Method As the focus of the research, the core connotation of the soft connectivity in rail transit operation and management is defined. The typical case practices at home and abroad are analyzed from the aspects of unified ticketing, mutual recognition of security checks, information sharing, compatible payment, mechanism coordination and emergency coordination, and key experience of integrated operation is summarized. Based on this analysis and considering China’s actual conditions, the difficulties in advancing soft connectivity in operation management are identified. Furthermore, a progressive implementation pathway is proposed to address these difficulties at different levels.

Result & Conclusion  The problems of unified ticketing and compatible payment are relatively easy to solve and can be taken as a recent entry point. Information sharing and operation coordination should be gradually explored in terms of systems and governance mechanisms, and be advanced through medium-and long-term governance innovations. As mutual recognition of security checks and emergency coordination are difficult to be fundamentally solved in the short term, they have to be implemented progressively, relying on the improvement of top-level system design, laws and regulations.