The dynamic characteristics of the current collection system are investigated by conducting a test run in which signals from accelerometers and load cells attached to the various parts of the pantograph are analyzed in both the time and frequency domains. The dynamic characteristics of the current collection system are found to be strongly influenced by the train speed; the fluctuation in the pantograph motion increases in direct proportion to the train speed. There exist two major fequency components in the pantograph motion related to the current collection, a speed-dependent component arising from the train traversing a span of the catenary, and a speed-independent component related to the pantograph resonant frequency. The train acceleration is also found to exert strong influence on the current collection system characteristics. The effect of the train motion is found to be stronger on the speed-dependent frequency component than on the speed-independent one.