The rapid expansion of urban rail transit has reshaped urban spatial structures while simultaneously triggering complex environmental issues, including vibration, noise, electromagnetic radiation, and ecological disturbances. To systematically elucidate the knowledge evolution and emerging trends in this domain, a visualized bibliometric analysis was conducted using CiteSpace software, based on data from the CNKI and Web of Science Core Collection databases from 1995 to 2025. The results indicate that in terms of spatio-temporal distribution, the volume of publications exhibits a stepped growth pattern, forming a "one pole, multiple strong players" research landscape with China (focusing on engineering practices and publication volume) at the core, alongside the participation of various European and American countries (focusing on theoretical standards and ecological evaluations). Regarding evolutionary logic, the research focus has experienced a paradigm shift from early "structural safety and compliance assessment", through mid-term "human comfort and refined governance", to the current "multi-physics coupling effects and whole life-cycle environmental impact assessment". Concerning research hotspots, in addition to traditional vibration and noise reduction, complex environmental issues such as the coupled vibration of complex over-track buildings and the electromagnetic-corrosion multi-field effects in underground spaces, as well as AI-based precision prediction and evaluation methods, are emerging as new focal points.

Future research should focus on constructing an integrated assessment and control system that fuses physical mechanisms with data-driven approaches and coordinates multi-source environmental impacts—such as acoustics, vibration, electromagnetics, and ecology—thereby supporting the green, low-carbon, and resilient development of urban rail transit.