The research progress of pantograph catenary arc of high speed railways was summarized from the four aspects,including the formation mechanism of arc,the arc erosion and its effect factors,the effect of arc on the friction and wear of materials and the method of arc suppression. The effect of arc on the friction and wear of materials and the method of arc extinguishing were summed up,and the research on various effective extinguishment method was suggested as the development direction of arc theoretical research.