 In March 1907, the Superior Council of Public Works gave its permission to build the line, which had been designed by Antonio Clementi.Works were started in 1913 by the "Società per le Ferrovie Vicinali" (SFV), and the first section of the railway was opened for service on 12 June 1916, from Rome to San Cesareo and Genazzano, together with a branch line from San Cesareo to Frascati.The railway used a narrow gauge of , with electric traction and high-voltage direct current (850 V).