Identifying and Prioritizing the Risks of Urban Rail Transportation Networks with Emphasis on Resilience (Case Study: Tehran Metro)

Background & objectives: The urban rail transport network is always at risk due to its special conditions. Many cases indicate the existence of threatening and risk factors for human societies in urban rail transportation systems. Therefore, in this study, with the aim of identifying and prioritizing the risks of urban rail transportation networks in order to increase resilience is on the agenda. Methods: The research method was descriptive-analytical and applied. The statistical population of this article included Tehran metro employees at Imam Khomeini station. In this article, the sample size has been selected systematically and purposefully, which included 24 employees and managers of Imam Khomeini station in Tehran. To classify the hazards of Tehran's urban rail transportation system, first the hazards were identified and the cause and consequences were determined and then the hazards were prioritized using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. Results: The results of the study showed that there are 22 hazards in Tehran's urban transportation system. The results of applying AHP in prioritizing the identified hazards indicated that the risk of floods, leaks and water accumulation, earthquakes, sabotage and terrorist activities, were among the hazards with important priorities in the rail transport network of Tehran, respectively. Also, heat in electric stations, sewage system of station and the presence of unpleasant chemical gases were among the items that had the least risks in the study area. Conclusion: The results showed that Tehran urban transportation system in the study station had potential hazards. Therefore, based on the identified risks, measures such as monitoring the behavior of tunnel and railway lines and data mining information, using firefighting equipment, completing the rapid alert system (in interaction with the Urban Crisis Organization) and developing emergency resilience instructions could be performed.