Leitner Working on Cervinia's “Cervino The One,” state-of-the-art lift connecting the valley floor to the high-altitude glacier on the Swiss border.

Ninety years after the inaugural cable car line transformed Breuil-Cervinia into an alpine sports destination, the Italian resort is embarking on a major infrastructure overhaul. The high-altitude project, dubbed “Cervino The One,” will introduce a state-of-the-art 3S tri-cable ropeway system connecting the valley floor to the high-altitude glacier on the Swiss border.

Constructed by South Tyrolean ropeway manufacturer Leitner in partnership with a civil construction consortium comprising local firms Cogeis, Ivies, and BGF, the approximately €200 million development replaces aging infrastructure and establishes year-round alpine mobility across the resort.

Redefining Alpine Mobility Across Two Sections

The new 3S gondola system spans two sequential sections covering nearly six kilometers in total length and 1,436 meters of vertical rise:

• Section 1 (Breuil-Cervinia to Plan Maison): Replaces the existing Breuil–Plan Maison cable car with a high-capacity 3S system operating alongside the historical aerial tramway.

• Section 2 (Plan Maison to Plateau Rosa): Extends upward along the historic alignment originally forged in 1939 by pioneer Dino Lora Totino, reaching Plateau Rosa at 3,458 meters.

By utilizing high-speed 3S technology—capable of operating in wind speeds up to 100 km/h at speeds up to 8 meters per second—the travel time from Breuil-Cervinia to Plateau Rosa will drop from around 45–50 minutes to approximately 17 to 20 minutes. The upgrade eliminates seasonal shutdowns for maintenance, enabling true 365-day year-round operation.

Pininfarina Design and High-Altitude Engineering

The system will feature 56 custom-designed Pininfarina Symphony cabins, built to carry up to 30 passengers each (24 seated on premium heated cushions, plus 6 standing). The cabins feature 360-degree panoramic glass walls, internal ski racks, anti-slip rubber flooring, integrated infotainment screens, and acoustic insulation.

At the summit, Plateau Rosa directly connects to Switzerland’s Matterhorn Alpine Crossing and the Klein Matterhorn glacier system, which Leitner previously completed for Zermatt Bergbahnen.

Hub Redevelopment and Strategic Vision

Beyond the cableway line itself, the project incorporates extensive architectural redevelopment across the three station sites:

• Valley Station (Breuil-Cervinia, 2,031 m): Redesigned into a multi-service alpine terminal featuring automated ticket halls, customer information centers, equipment rentals, retail stores, and dining spaces.

• Mid-Station (Plan Maison, 2,550 m): Serves as the operational hub, housing a multifunctional community space, maintenance workshops, and an underground automated storage hall for the gondola cabins.

• Summit Station (Plateau Rosa, 3,458 m): Integrated directly into the rock face to facilitate seamless international transit between Italy and Switzerland.

“This project looks to the future of Breuil-Cervinia and the entire Aosta Valley, representing a concrete investment in the new generations who live and work in Valtournenche,” said Federico Maquignaz, President of Cervino S.p.A. “It means creating new development opportunities and offering a modern infrastructure capable of enhancing one of the most famous alpine destinations in the world.”

Construction is scheduled across three years, targeting an official inauguration for the 2029/2030 winter season.