To ensure only one train operates in each ventilation section within an extra-long tunnel, a ventilation shaft was typically installed to divide the entire tunnel into multiple sections. Given the crucial role of piston wind in the metro tunnel environment and ventilation, a deeper understanding of train-induced unsteady airflow in a metro tunnel with a ventilation shaft is desirable. This study uses the unsteady flow theory of the Bernoulli equation to mathematically model piston wind in metro tunnels both with and without ventilation shafts. The influence of various shaft parameters on piston wind development is systematically analyzed. The results indicate that the shaft significantly impacts the piston wind. The maximum piston wind speed and ventilation rate in tunnels with ventilation shafts surpass those in tunnels without them. Moreover, shaft location and the cross-sectional area notably affect the maximum piston wind speed, ventilation rate, and airflow in the shaft, whereas shaft height has no significant effect. It is found that a ventilation shaft with a larger cross-sectional area positioned in the middle of the tunnel enhances the performance of piston ventilation.