Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung
After acknowledging the warning signal the train has to stay below the braking curve (German "Bremskurve") - fast trains may travel up to 165 km/h and they must reduce the speed to below 85 km/h after 23 seconds. Note that the operation of high speed trains beyond 165 km/h is not based on visual wayside signals or PZB inductors (using LZB or European Train Control System cab-signalling instead in Germany).
High-speed rail in Italy
High-speed service was introduced on the Rome-Milan line in 1988-89 with the ETR 450 "Pendolino" train, with a top speed of 250 km/h and cutting travel times from about 5 hours to 4. 
The prototype train ETR X 500 was the first Italian train to reach on the "Direttissima" on 25 May 1989.