The invention provides a hand-held cable 
continuity test device for a rail vehicle. The 
bus switch module (A) of the device is provided with a cable end. The contacts of A are connected with an idle 
bus and a test 
bus respectively. Each bus is connected with a grounding end through the contacts of grounding switch modules (B). Drive and grounding ports are arranged. Each switch module is providedwith an enable end and contacts. The slave device of the 
system comprises the hand-held cable 
continuity test device, control and communication modules, a power supply, a power supply switch module (C) and a 
voltage measurement circuit. The power supply is connected with the test bus through the contacts of C. The control module is connected with the drive. The enable end is connected with contacts and the drive. 
Short circuit and 
continuity test is carried out on a connected first cable. A master device determines a corresponding test result. Next cables on the same A are tested in 
reverse order until the last one. The test comprises the steps that the master device sends a test 
signal to the slave device; and the slave device controls the contact action of the slave device, and notifiesthe master device to control the contact action after switching. The test result is determined according to 
voltage. The volume is small, and the speed is fast.