Research on the Classification of Rail Transit Stations and Passenger Flow Patterns—A Case from Xi’an, China

Transit-oriented development (TOD) has been promoted and implemented worldwide through the efficient integration of rail transit stations and land use. However, the interactions between stations and the surrounding catchment areas (CAs) are characterized by different features of the built environment and regional development. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a quantitative classification method for rail transit stations based on the built environment within a CA and to identify the passenger flow characteristics of different types of stations to develop targeted planning and design policies. In this study, Line 1 and Line 2 within the third ring road of Xi’an City were taken as the objects, and a station classification system was constructed by taking station traffic levels and different building functions within the CA as the classification factors. Secondly, indicators of the built environment, such as six different types of functions, were calculated through refined vector modeling, and 30 typical stations were typologically analyzed. Furthermore, 10 typical types—totaling 11 stations—were selected for passenger flow monitoring, and the passenger flow characteristics of the different types of stations were summarized in terms of the dimensions of stations and exits. Finally, the correlations between the indicators of the built environment and passenger traffic for different functions were quantified. This study provides a basis for the future optimization of stations and the built environment, as well as station design and management.