[1] The history of this train dates back as far as the 1930s, when Italy completed its first two high-speed lines, the Diretissima, one between Bologna and Florence and the other between Rome and Naples.

High speed at that time meant 175 km/h and a new electric multiple unit, the Elettro Treno Rapido 200 (ETR 200), was developed with help of Turin University between 1934 and 1936.

The ETR 200 was built by Breda in 1936 and entered service between Bologna and Naples in 1937, using the new lines and calling at Florence and Rome.

After World War II the service was resumed and named Freccia del Vesuvio (Vesuvian arrow) in the fifties.

[2] In 1969, the Ferrovie dello Stato decided to replace its Trans Europ Express (TEE) diesel multiple units with locomotive-hauled trains, after the German and French examples.