In the context of the accelerating urbanization process, the problem of urban traffic congestion has become more severe. Rail transit, with its advantages of high efficiency, convenience, and environmental friendliness, has become a key force in alleviating urban traffic pressure. An in - depth exploration of passengers’ willingness to travel by rail transit is of great significance for optimizing urban traffic planning, improving the service quality of rail transit, and promoting the sustainable development of cities. This article starts from two dimensions: objective factors and passengers’ subjective perceptions, and comprehensively uses a variety of research methods to conduct an in - depth study on passengers’ willingness to travel by rail transit. In terms of objective factors, this article analyzes the differences in subjective perceptions among different passenger groups from the perspectives of gender, age, education level, and occupation. In terms of subjective perceptions, this article deeply analyzes the impact of passengers’ perceptions of the internal value, external value, and comfort of rail transit on their travel willingness.