A　rising　water　table　increases　soil　water　content,　reduces　soil　strength,　and　amplifies　vibrations　under　identical　train　loads,　thereby　posing　greater　risks　to　train　operations.　To　investigate　this　phenomenon,　we　used　a　2.5D　finite　element　(FE)　model　of　a　coupled　vehicle–embankment–ground　system　based　on　Biot’s　theory.　The　ground　properties　were　derived　from　a　typical　soil　profile　of　the　Yangtze　River　basin,　using　geological　data　from　Shanghai,　China.　The　findings　indicate　that　a　rise　in　the　water　table　leads　to　increased　dynamic　displacements　of　both　the　track　and　the　ground.　This　amplification　effect　extends　beyond　the　depth　of　the　water　table,　impacting　the　entire　embankment–foundation　cross-section,　and　intensifies　with　higher　train　speeds.　However,　the　water　table　rise　has　a　limited　impact　on　the　critical　speed　of　trains　and　dominant　frequency　contents.　The　dynamic　response　of　the　embankment　is　more　significantly　affected　by　water　table　rises　within　the　subgrade　than　by　those　within　the　ground.　When　the　water　table　rises　into　the　subgrade,　significant　excess　pore　pressure　is　generated　inside　the　embankment,　causing　a　substantial　drop　in　effective　stress.　As　a　result,　the　stress　path　of　the　soil　elements　in　the　subgrade　approaches　the　Mohr-Coulomb　failure　line,　increasing　the　likelihood　of　soil　failure.　©　Zhejiang　University　Press　2025.