 The TEEColosseum arriving atMilano Centrale station in 1985 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Trans Europ Express (TEE) (1984–1987) InterCity (IC) (1987–1989) EuroCity (EC) (1989–1997) |
| Locale | Germany Switzerland Italy |
| Predecessor | TEESettebello |
| First service | 3 June 1984 (1984-06-03) |
| Last service | 31 May 1997 (1997-05-31) |
| Former operator(s) | Deutsche Bundesbahn Ferrovie dello Stato |
| Route | |
| Termini | Rome Milan /Frankfurt am Main |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Electrification | 15 kV 16.7 Hz (Germany & Switzerland) 3,000 V DC (Italy) |
TheColosseum was anexpress train initially linkingRome andMilan, laterFrankfurt am Main. The train was named after the Amphitheatrum Flavium, renowned as theColosseum.[1]
TheColosseum was the successor to theTEESettebello on the same route and schedule. TheETR 300 rolling stock was replaced by locomotive-hauled coaches of the Gran Conforto class. Since the nameSettebello was widely associated with the ETR 300 stock, the name of the Milan – Rome service was changed as well. On 3 June 1984, the service continued as TEEColosseum (or Colosseo in Italian).[2] The train was hauled byFS Class E.444 locomotives and used the Gran Conforto coaches that had been used in theTEEAdriatico until 2 June 1984. After three years of service as a TEE, theColosseum was converted to a two-class InterCity.[3]
On 28 May 1989, the route was extended further north toFrankfurt am Main and, being international, the train qualified asEuroCity. The coaches for the EuroCity service were provided byDeutsche Bundesbahn. In 1991, the GermanInterCityExpress (ICE) started with the opening of the Hanover – Würzburg high-speed railway. This meant a reorganisation of the long-distance train services that affected the EuroCitys as well. Travellers to Frankfurt could use the ICE north ofBasel, but the Rhine valley further north did not yet have a high-speed service, and the number of EuroCitys there was increased. Travellers from Milan to Germany could use theECVerdi, but this train did not operate south of Milan. TheColosseum was shortened to the Rome – Basel portion, which continued in operation until 31 May 1997. On 1 June 1997,Cisalpino introduced ETR 470 tilting trains betweenMilan andBasel, which replaced the ECColosseum.[4]
