Analysis of the Chinese railway system as a complex network. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Wei; Cai, Kaiquan; Du, Wenbo; Wu, Xin; Tong, Lu (Carol); Zhu, Xi; Cao, Xianbin
• Is Part Of: Chaos, solitons and fractals. Volume 130(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Chinese railway network -- Complex network -- Weighted k-core decomposition -- Urban agglomeration; Chaotic behavior in systems -- Periodicals; Solitons -- Periodicals; Fractals -- Periodicals; Chaotic behavior in systems; Fractals; Solitons; Periodicals; 003.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2019.109408
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-0779

Abstract

Highlights: Complex network theories are applied to analyze Chinese railway network (CRN). CRN displays a typical small-world and core-periphery structure. CRN's core-periphery structure embodies obvious economic and geographical features. The core-periphery structure is strengthened by gravity model and urban planning. Abstract: This paper conducts a series of complex network analyses on the Chinese railway network (CRN), where nodes represent cities with rail stations and edges denote connections defined by transit services between cities. CRN is a small-world network with two-regime power-law distributions. This paper also encapsulates CRN into a multi-layer infrastructure with a core-periphery structure via the ''weighted k -core decomposition" method. The reasonability of cities contained in the core layer is generally consistent with the hub set identified by the gravity model. The core-periphery structure is also benchmarked by urban agglomeration development planning in China.