A　investigation　is　carried　out　on　the　underground　freight　transport　(UFT)　system,　in　which　a　strong　interest　grows　in　several　developed　country　in　recently　years,　so　as　to　provide　helpful　suggestions　to　the　development　of　metropolitan　transportation　in　China.　The　concept　and　classification　of　UFT　systems　are　firstly.　Secondly,　the　history　of　UFT　in　developed　country　was　introduced　and　the　current　status　and　innovations　of　UFT　systems　were　given.　Lastly,　areas　of　application,　potentials　and　anticipated　future　use　of　UFT　systems　were　discussed.　In　conclusion,　UFT　systems　will　be　very　efficient　to　the　improvement　of　urban　transportation,　and　the　effects　and　potentials　of　building　UFT　systems　will　be　as　follows:　promotion　of　travel　speed　and　efficiency;　reduction　of　urban　environmental　pollution;　reduction　of　traffic　congestion　and　improvement　of　freight　accessibility;　and　less　covering　of　urban　areas　and　promotion　of　sustainable　development;　and　promotion　of　freight　distribution　productivity　and　reduction　of　freight　transport　and　storage　cost.　It　may　be　a　strategy　researching　and　developing　area　to　implement　UFT　systems　in　metropolises　in　China.　Building　UFT　systems　will　be　a　new　idea　to　solve　future　transport　problems.