Large-scale development of urban rail transit has attracted attention owing to its sizable energy consumption. Energy-efficient planning can enhance the distribution and utilization of limited energy resources. This study proposes a two-stage urban rail transit operation planning approach comprising running time allocation and regenerative energy utilization to save energy consumption. The proposed models and algorithms holistically deal with inter-station running time synergy which utilizes surplus running time to achieve minimum energy consumption. They also implement the hauling and braking synergy of multiple trains in multiple trips, with adjustments to departure intervals and dwelling times, to maximize the regenerative energy real-time utilization rate. The algorithms utilize chromosomes in genetic algorithm to represent possible operation stage combinations, conduct feasible direction iterations to facilitate surplus-time effective allocations, and maximize the derived overlap time for operation synergy of trains under the precondition of energy-efficient train movements between stations. A case study of the metro line demonstrates that considerable energy saving is achievable through the proposed planning approach. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.