The arc discharge and temperature rise of carbon strip during the sliding process of pantograph/catenary were studied by using a ringonblock test bench of a high speed current carrying friction and wear testing machine.The effect of the normal contact force,relative sliding speed and electric current on the arc discharge and the strip temperature rise of the panatographcatenary system was discussed.The test results show that the peak temperature of carbon strip is increased sharply during the current carrying friction of pantograph and catenary,and the energy of arc discharge is the main cause for the temperature rise of a carbon strip.The increasing of the normal contact force can suppress the arc discharge and the temperature rise of carbon strips.The arc discharge energy and the peak temperature rise of the carbon strips are increased with the increasing of the electricity current and the relative sliding speed,and the relationship between electricity current and temperature rise of carbon strip is approximate to linear.