A Comprehensive Review on Pantograph-Catenary Arc Detection and Classification in High-Speed Railway Traction Systems

Arcing in pantograph-catenary systems poses a critical challenge for high-speed railways, particularly in neutral sections where sudden voltage transitions occur. These transient discharges accelerate mechanical wear, induce electromagnetic interference, and degrade traction power quality. Over the past decade, extensive research has explored real-time detection and mitigation of pantograph-catenary arcing using electrical, optical, and hybrid sensing approaches. More recently, digital twin based simulation models have been employed to analyze arc dynamics, enabling safer and more cost-effective evaluation of operating conditions. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent developments in arc detection and surge protection for high-speed railway traction systems, with emphasis on applicability to Indian Railway environments. The study critically compares existing methodologies in terms of detection accuracy, computational efficiency, dataset requirements, and field validation. Finally, key research gaps and implementation challenges are outlined to guide the development of next-generation intelligent monitoring frameworks for reliable pantograph-catenary operation.