Suburban railway system is an essential component of the rail transit system. However, the construction of suburban railway system in China has been suffering from notably slow development and low operation revenue. Under these circumstances, the single-car train system, with lots of operation experience in many developed countries as well as the advantages of flexible marshalling, easy maintenance, etc., gives rise to a possible solution to the problems aforementioned. We will start by clarifying the definition of suburban railway system and single-car train system. Then we will summarize the history of suburban railway system in China and analyze the problems in existing suburban railways. We will then introduce examples as well as advanced experiences in suburban railway systems abroad. After that, we will analyze the feasibility of using the single-car train system in China’s suburban railway lines and potential advantages. Lastly, we will give suggestions on China’s transportation infrastructure.

CICTP