Evaluating thermal demand differences among passenger groups in a high-speed railway station waiting hall during summer.

China has achieved remarkable outcomes in high-speed rail construction; however, certain problems remain. High-speed railway station waiting halls are characterized by their large spans and dense passenger flows, leading to significant variations in the thermal environment and inadequate fulfillment of passengers' diverse comfort requirements. To address these issues, a field investigation was conducted at a typical high‑speed railway station in China's cold region, and a total of 207 valid questionnaires were collected. The analysis revealed that various operation and maintenance modes influence the waiting hall's thermal environment. Furthermore, the study identified thermal sensitivity differences among diverse passenger groups, with their neutral temperatures varying considerably across BMI and age groups (ranging from 22.50-27.90 ℃). It also calculated each group's recommended thermal neutral temperature and comfortable temperature range, and established a multi-factor thermal sensation prediction model that demonstrates strong fitting performance, achieving R² values of 0.8690 and 0.9430 for different gender groups. This research offers theoretical support for precise environmental regulation in high-speed railway station waiting halls and promotes the sustainable development of rail transit stations.