The system is a true funicular: an inclined railway with two passenger cars, connected via cables, operating in concert.

[1] The Central Funicular connects its upper terminus in Vomero with its lower terminus at Via Toledo near Galleria Umberto via four stations: Piazza Fuga, Petraio-Via Palizzi (accessing the Vomero Petraio), Corso Vittorio Emanuele (Napoli), and Augusteo at Piazzetta Duca d'Aosta.

In the first two decades of the 20th century, a dramatic increase in the number of people travelling downhill from Piazza Vanvitelli to Central Naples led to a need to provide a public transport option for the steep decline.

Due to the difficult nature of the steep slope, it was decided early on that a funicular line would provide the best option for the route.

An innovative traction facility was installed utilising twin Ward Leonard groups with dynamic repulsion batteries, and the cars driven by 300 hp (220 kW) Marelli engines.

A tender was put out to refit both the lines and cars, and this was undertaken by Ceretti & Tanfani, who sub-contracted various aspects of their project to firms including Fondedile, Raiole, Del Vecchio, and Icla.