The construction of railway projects in China is still in the ascendant, and the construction of tunnel projects under complex geological conditions will face more and more challenges. Seven typical engineering disasters during the construction period of railway tunnels were introduced including water inrush, collapse, large deformation, rock hurst, harmful gas, high ground temperature and frost damage. According to the types of disasters, a preliminary summary of each disaster case was given. In addition, for some typical disaster prevention and control cases in recent years, the disaster occurrence process, disaster mechanism and specific disposal methods were introduced detailedly to provide reference for future similar project disaster prevention and control. On the basis of summing up the experience and lessons learned from disaster prevention and control of railway tunnels, it was suggested that future disaster prevention and control should focus on the following areas, emphasis on the macro geological analysis of the tunnel site area, development of comprehensive advanced geological forecasting technologies, improvement of tunnel disaster monitoring and early warning systems, and improvement of the level of disaster risk information management and control, development of large-scale mechanized supporting construction, and reinforcement of the safety quality management of tunnel construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]