The effects of staggering(the offset of the contact line at the locating point from the center of the pantograph) on arc discharge characteristics,wear behaviors of strip/contact wire were studied on a blockonring type highspeed electric sliding test machinet,by adjusting the lateral reciprocation of the carbon strip to simulate the staggering of the actual contact wire.The results indicate that the discharge frequency and arc discharge energy are increased with the increasing of staggering.When electric current was applied,the temperature rise of the carbon strip without staggering is lower than that with staggering,and when the carbon strip slides against the contact wire with staggering,the temperature rise of the carbon strip is decreased with the increasing of staggering.When electric current was not applied,the temperature rise of carbon strip is decreased with increasing of staggering.The wear rate of carbon strip without staggering is generally less than 3090 mm3/km,while the wear rate of carbon strip with staggering is decreased with the increasing of staggering.