City　logistics　performance　(CLP)　is　being　increasingly　challenged　by　public　health　emergencies　and　relevant　mobility　restriction　policies.　This　paper　introduces　a　novel　urban　contactless　delivery　measure　incorporating　the　metro-based　underground　logistics　system　(M-ULS)　and　“Pandemic　Thruport”　(P-Thruport)　concept　to　encounter　logistics　service　failure　during　pandemic　outbreaks.　This　solution　is　proposed　to　utilize　the　redundant　public　rail　transit　capacity　to　move　goods　efficiently　and　collectively　from　the　outskirts　to　in-city　customer　destinations.　To　assess　the　effect　of　the　proposed　solution　on　CLP,　two　interacting　system　dynamics　models　are　developed,　where　supply–demand　relationships,　logistics　operation　process,　and　CLP　evaluation　indicators　(e.g.,　delivery　time　delay,　costs,　infection　model,　and　underground　logistics　benefits)　are　comprised.　The　COVID-19　outbreaks　in　Shanghai　City　from　March　to　May　2022,　were　taken　as　a　case　to　evaluate　the　variation　of　CLP　under　four　different　scenarios　associated　with　the　dynamic　implementation　of　M-ULS　and　the　pandemic　conditions.　Results　show　that　the　new　system　is　conducive　to　lowering　the　infection　risks　of　logistics　activities　and　improving　urban　freight　transport　efficiency.　Compared　with　trucking　mode,　M-ULS’s　advantages　reflect　in　cost-saving　and　service　capability.　Moreover,　the　sustainable　improvement　of　CLP　can　be　achieved　by　balancing　the　operations　of　M-ULS　and　road-based　logistics　services　through　incentive　policy　adjustment.　©　The　Author(s)　2024.