ETR 500 (Elettro Treno Rapido 500) is a family of Italian high-speed trains built by AnsaldoBreda and introduced in 1993.

In 1988 the first prototype motorcar, called ETR 500-X and nicknamed "Remo," as the brother of the first Roman king, rolled out of the factory in Vado Ligure.

It was tested on the Direttissima line in the combination of a measuring car and an E 444 locomotive, reaching a record speed of 319 km/h (198 mph).

After the success of the 2 prototypes, FS decided to order 30 mono-current trainsets supporting the 3 kV DC supply of existing lines.

Between 2006 and 2008, the first generation trains have been upgraded with newly built E.404 6xx dual-voltage motorcars, coupled to the existing middle cars.

All E.404 0xx motorcars of the older trainsets have been refurbished and transformed into locomotives of the type E.414, to haul EuroStarCity and later Frecciabianca trains on selected routes.

They were delivered in three batches: In addition, there are rebuilt and refurbished versions: The last speed record is 362 km/h (225 mph) (also trainset Y1) between Florence and Bologna.