In　order　to　investigate　the　temperature　distribution　beneath　the　subway　ceiling,　a　series　of　experiments　were　carried　out　in　a　1:20　small-scale　model　of　a　three-level　cross-type　interchange　subway　station.　The　experimental　model　contains　three　floors,　including　two　lines　of　the　metro.　The　experiment　results　show　that　the　maximum　temperature　below　the　ceiling　in　the　cross-type　interchange　subway　station　is　slightly　higher　than　the　maximum　temperature　below　the　ceiling　under　the　unconstrained　space　burning,　because　the　complex　structure　of　the　transfer　station　affects　the　flow　of　the　fire-induced　smoke.　The　maximum　temperature　model　proposed　by　Alpert　was　modified　by　analysing　the　experiment　results　of　the　highest　temperature　below　the　ceiling　in　the　small-scale　cross-type　interchange　subway　station,　and　the　new　prediction　formula　for　the　maximum　temperature　excess　was　proposed.　When　the　distance　between　fire　location　and　side　wall　is　1.5　times　the　tunnel　height,　the　modified　coefficient　of　maximum　temperature　excess　is　1.1348　based　on　the　model　proposed　by　Alpert.　This　study　on　this　issue　may　benefit　the　current　design　of　fire　protection　measures　for　the　platform　ceiling.　©　The　Authors,　published　by　EDP　Sciences.　This　is　an　open　access　article　distributed　under　the　terms　of　the　Creative　Commons　Attribution　License　4.0　(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)