This　paper　presents　the　design　and　commissioning　of　a　novel　pseudo-static　test　apparatus　for　underground　structures　that　accounts　for　soil-structure　interaction　by　simulating　the　soil　with　suitably　designed　springs.　The　developed　apparatus　was　employed　to　conduct　1:10　large　scale　tests　on　a　two-story　three-span　prefabricated　subway　station　structure.　Two　comparative　cyclic　load　tests　were　conducted:　one　involved　the　developed　springs-structure　system;　and　one　involved　the　structure　alone　(no　springs).　The　test　results　demonstrated　important　differences　in　the　damage　location,　damage　degree,　bearing　capacity,　and　deformation　capacity　of　the　prefabricated　subway　station　structure　under　the　two　loading　conditions　(i.e.,　with　and　without　springs).　The　presence　of　springs　(i.e.,　soil-structure　interaction)　enhanced　the　lateral　collapse　resistance　of　the　underground　structure　and　affected　the　inter-story　displacement　ratio　(IDR)　between　the　upper　and　lower　layers　of　the　two-story　prefabricated　subway　station　structure.　However,　it　did　not　affect　the　deformation　coordination　of　the　walls　and　columns　of　each　layer.　A　finite　element　model　of　the　prototype　station　was　also　established　to　conduct　dynamic　time　history　analysis　simulating　the　soil-structure　interaction.　The　results　from　the　dynamic　analysis　validated　the　effectiveness　of　the　pseudo-static　test　method　employing　the　spring-structure　system.　The　excellent　agreement　between　the　calculated　dynamic　responses　and　the　responses　obtained　from　the　pseudo　static　tests　confirmed　the　ability　of　the　developed　apparatus　to　conduct　seismic　tests　on　complex　large-scale　underground　structures　such　as　prefabricated　subway　stations.　Thus,　this　test　methodology　might　be　utilized　to　attain　valuable　insights　into　the　seismic　performance　of　prefabricated　subway　stations　at　a　relatively　low　cost　and　effort.　©　2024　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd.