The electrical characteristics on pantograph-catenary arc are important indicator parameters of electrical contact performance for pantograph-catenary system in high speed railway. Therefore

firstly

the voltage-current（U-I） characteristics of pantograph-catenary arc in high speed railway were measured by a novel apparatus. Arcing peak voltage

arcing time and stable arcing voltage during pantograph rising were analyzed. Moreover

the voltage of pantograph-catenary arc during pantograph rising was measured and analyzed. Secondly

the experimental results of the breakdown voltage of air gap were interpreted by gas dielectric breakdown theory and streamer theory. The relationship between arcing peak voltage and the gap distance of pantograph and catenary wire in the process of pantograph rising was analyzed by curve fitting. Finally

the effect of supply current on the voltage characteristic of pantograph-catenary arc was studied. Conclusions are drawn from experimental results as follows: The voltage-current characteristics of pantograph-catenary arc are asymmetrical. During pantograph continuous rising process

arcing time increases firstly and then decreases

arcing peak voltage is an exponential function with the gap distance of pantograph and catenary wire

and the goodness of fit is more than 0.97; With the increasing of current

stable arcing voltage decreases slightly and the slope of arcing peak voltage change increases. The research results can provide references for analyzing pantograph-catenary arc in operating conditions.