The　urban　rail　network　system　plays　a　significant　role　in　the　urban　transportation　system　and　urban　economic　development.　Further　study　of　the　urban　rail　network　properties　can　provide　additional　guidance　to　related　scholars　and　designers.　This　study　explored　urban　rail　network　properties　worldwide,　including　assessments　of　their　static　and　dynamic　network　topologic　characteristics.　Statically,　this　study　analyzed　various　related　network　topological　indicators　for　all　of　these　urban　rail　networks.　We　found　that,　with　increasing　network　size,　the　average　degree　slightly　increases　while　the　complexity　and　connectivity　decrease.　Using　the　Kolmogorov-Smirnov　goodness-of-fit,　the　scale　of　the　degree　interval　of　these　cities　is　[3.5　12.2].　Approximately　90%　of　these　cities　have　network　efficiency　values　less　than　0.12,　and　78%　of　these　cities　have　lower　assortativity　coefficients.　Focusing　on　the　sustainable　growth　of　rail　networks,　this　study　tested　some　specific　networks　to　further　deliberate　their　network　expansion　ability,　network　growth,　and　network　robustness　properties.　The　network　expansion　capability　of　small　networks　is　relatively　poor,　while　that　of　large　networks　is　relatively　strong.　A　simulation　of　network　growth　suggests　that　the　connection　of　nodes　with　the　maximum　path　length　will　seriously　affect　the　efficiency　and　characteristics　of　the　network.　The　robustness　of　the　network　indicates　that　adopting　the　maximum　nodal　degree　elimination　strategy　will　affect　the　function　of　the　network.　The　results　provide　essential　reference　information　for　the　rational　planning,　structural　optimization,　safe　operation　and　sustainable　growth　of　rail　transit　networks.