Research purposes: The 400 km/h catenary system has no relevant technical standards and engineering applications. The catenary wire and tension system belong to the core key technology of the pantograph and catenary system. Based on the CR450 scientific and technological innovation project, starting from the performance requirements of the catenary system electrical, mechanical and pantograph - catenary current at a higher speed of 400 km/h, this paper analyzes the key factors for the selection of catenary wire tension, and proposes a scientific and reasonable technical route. Through pantograph -catenary dynamic coupling simulation and structural finite element analysis, the cross - section and tension combination of 400 km/h catenary wire are optimally allocated, and the engineering adaptability analysis is carried out. The verification of the catenary system scheme and parameters are further advanced. Finally, the cross - section and tension combination of the 400 km/h catenary wire is proposed, and the key technical parameters of the 400 km/h catenary system are established. Research conclusions: (1) Increasing the working tension of the catenary wire can effectively improve the dynamic coupling performance of the pantograph - catenary system, and properly increasing the working tension of the catenary cable can effectively restrain the dynamic lifting of the positioning point and reduce the load of the droppers. (2) The better choice of working tension for the 400 km/h catenary system would be a contact wire with a cross - section of 150 mm2 (rated working tension 36 kN) and a catenary wire with a cross - section of 120 mm2 (working tension 28 kN) . (3) The parameters of the 400 km/h catenary system formed in this paper such as pantograph - catenary current collection, suspension arrangement, equipment performance, construction and maintenance, have good engineering adaptability and implementability. (4) The research results can provide reference for the construction of high - speed railway projects in the field of rail transit. © 2023 Editorial Department of Journal of Railway Engineering Society. All rights reserved.