The invention discloses a reverse starting test method and device for a traction system. The method comprises the following steps that: S1, a test accompanying traction system and a to-be-tested traction system are connected with each other, so that the a reverse starting test system is constructed, the test accompanying traction system simulates the load of the to-be-tested traction system; S2, when a test is started, the reverse of the test accompanying traction system is controlled to be started, and the test accompanying traction system is controlled to operate according to control parameters calculated according to operation conditions required by the test; S3, when the test accompanying traction system operates under a specified operation working condition, the to-be-tested tractionsystem is started, a forward torque is applied onto the to-be-tested traction system, and the to-be-tested traction system and the test accompanying traction system are controlled to realize reverse twin trawling according to the torque direction of the test accompanying traction system, so that a vehicle reverse starting working condition can be simulated; and S4, the operation states of the to-be-tested traction system and the test accompanying traction system are monitored, a test result is judged. The method has the advantages of simple test operation, low implementation cost, high test reliability, good test performance and the like.