Objective As an important component of the 'four-network integration', suburban railways possess the dual characteristics of national railways and urban rail transit. However, the laws, regulations, and standards covering the entire process—including planning and design, construction, operation, and maintenance—have not yet been fully established, and the division of responsibilities among relevant stakeholders remains unclear. In order to ensure the smooth commencement of operation of Jiaxing Suburban Railway, a special study is conducted focusing on key tasks such as commissioning and acceptance prior to the initial operation.

Method Through systematic analysis of the safety assessment paths prior to the initial operation of railways and urban rail transit, the core differences between the two in terms of commissioning and acceptance workflows and cycles are clarified. At the same time, combined with recent practical investigations into the selection of safety assessment paths prior to the initial operation of newly opened suburban and intercity railway lines, a comprehensive comparison is conducted regarding the degree of difficulty in implementing key aspects such as obtaining transport operation permits, preparing personnel teams, and achieving line interconnectivity.

Result & Conclusion  Based on the comparative level of difficulty of the two paths and the actual conditions of Jiaxing Suburban Railway, the urban rail transit path is selected to carry out the safety assessment prior to the initial operation of the Jiaxing Suburban Railway. However, it is necessary to formulate in advance the technical standards for the safety assessment prior to the initial operation of Jiaxing Suburban Railway, in order to provide solid technical support and assurance for the safe and efficient commencement of its initial operation.