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Among urban public transport systems, light rail, mass transit, and tram systems offer sustainable travel options. However, many of these systems, particularly in developed countries, fail to meet user needs and the expectations of transport authorities. Increasing the demand for urban rail systems as an alternative to private cars is essential for achieving net zero targets and Sustainable Development Goals. This study investigates the factors influencing urban rail demand using qualitative data analysis, with a focus on thematic analysis. A systematic review of 53 studies from the UK, Europe, and worldwide, including journal articles and transport research reports, was conducted and coded using NVivo Version 15 software. Six main categories emerged: land use and accessibility, service quality, user benefits, governance, sustainability aspects, and user-focused elements. These categories, along with their themes and sub-themes, were analysed using cross-tabulations to compare attributes across domains. The key findings indicate that accessibility and intermodal connectivity are crucial for encouraging urban rail use, while ticketing, station facilities, walkability, travel costs, ventilation, and security also moderately influence user preferences. This study provides essential guidelines for policymakers and transport providers to improve urban rail systems and informed the development of a questionnaire to explore the interrelationships of these factors, discussed in a forthcoming paper.