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The rack railway system, driven by the meshing of vehicle gears and ground racks, overcomes the limitations of wheel-rail adhesion and offers advantages such as strong climbing ability, environmental sustainability, and low operational costs. These factors made it a key focus for rail transit construction in mountainous areas. The mountain rack railway system in China is still in its infancy, and technical standards for rack railway vehicles have yet to be fully established. Compared to traditional wheel-rail vehicles, rack railway vehicles exhibit significant differences. In order to clarify the particularity and top-level indicators of mountain rack railway tourism vehicles, this study analyzed the features of mountain tourist rail transportation. Based on the progress of domestic mountain rack railway tourism projects, the study identified specific vehicle requirements in terms of steep-slope operation, transitions between steep and gentle slopes, axle load, and sightseeing performance. The adaptability of meter gauge and standard gauge tracks in mountain tourism railways was studied, particularly how track gauge influences vehicle structure, clearance, and track structure. It was clarified that meter gauge tracks should be prioritized for routes with lower traffic volumes. A technical specification system was proposed, with three standard vehicle widths: 2. 65 m, 2. 5 m, and 2. 3 m. The corresponding vehicle dimensions and passenger capacities were specified. Train formations were proposed with capacities ranging from 486 to 7 320 passengers per hour. Additionally, an analysis of rack railway line characteristics indicated that the traction and braking performance of rack railway tourism vehicles should be between the levels of high-speed railway vehicles and urban rail transit vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]