•In winter, the temperature distribution of high-speed railway tunnels in cold regions will vary due to the train-induced airflow, whose effects are mostly unfavorable but sometimes favorable.•The duration of the effect of the train-induced airflow is about 16 min.•The relationship between the impacts of the train-induced airflow and train speed, travel interval time, and ambient temperature is as follows:•(1) The effects of the train-induced airflow on the tunnel temperature field are positively correlated with the train speed.•(2) The effects of the train-induced airflow are negatively correlated with the time interval of train travel.•(3) The effect of airflow becomes more significant when the ambient temperature decreases.