The train to Milan Bergamo airport will revolutionize Lombardy mobility
Milan Bergamo Airport is preparing to experience an epochal transformation: the arrival of the direct rail connection with Bergamo station, expected by 2026, after the Milan and Cortina Olympics. A project that does not only concern transport, but the very way of conceiving travel, focusing on accessibility, sustainability and quality of the passenger experience.
During the conference "An operating model for the railway connection with Bergamo airport" held today at the Giovanni XXIII Congress Center in Bergamo and opened by the institutional intervention of the President of SACBO Giovanni Sanga, Professor Stefano Paleari (UniBG), Diego Deponte (Systematica) and Gianni Scarfone (CIFI) in their respective analyses for SACBO, explained how the train represents a strategic lever for growth and innovation, capable of transforming the airport into a modern and multimodal mobility hub, capable of serving not only those who fly, but the entire Lombardy territory.
Accessibility and centrality: two key words
So far, Bergamo airport, third in Italy in terms of traffic with over 17 million passengers in 2024, has relied almost exclusively on road access. But, as Paleari points out, it is not the distance that determines the centrality of an airport, but the time and ease of access.
The arrival of the train will radically change the geography of Lombardy mobility: the airport will become reachable in 7 minutes from the center of Bergamo and in about 50 minutes from Milan Central, stabilizing travel times and reducing dependence on road traffic.
An advantage that will make Milan Bergamo Airport a more efficient, sustainable and competitive airport also at European level.
The new rail link
The project, developed by SACBO in collaboration with Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, includes:
- a new 5.3 km double-track railway line between Bergamo station and the airport;
- a "Bergamo Airport" station with four end tracks directly connected to the terminal;
- a doubling of the Ponte San Pietro-Bergamo section and the adaptation of the lines towards Milan, Brescia and Treviglio;
- a new integrated intermodality between train, bus and airport services.
The infrastructure is designed to accommodate over 250 trains per day, with frequencies of up to one train every 8 minutes between the city and the airport.
Travel times and new connections
According to the study by Systematica–PTS Clas, travel times will be competitive with the car:
The connection will offer more than 400 daily trips, of which:
- 80 "Caravaggio Express" trains without intermediate stops between Bergamo and Milan Lambrate (journey time: 58 minutes)
- 74 regional trains via Monza and Carnate (journey time: 68 minutes)
- 260 Bergamo–BGY metropolitan connections. 7 trains/hour per direction (every 8 minutes) only 7 minutes travel between the city and the airport
- connection with Treviglio and Eastern Lombardy: 2 trains/hour (line S31) travel time 40 minutes to Treviglio Centrale, with connections to Brescia, Verona, Cremona, Bolzano and Lake Garda.
What changes for passengers
For those who fly, the train will be the fastest and most convenient solution to reach the airport, without parking or traffic stress.
The connection will also be useful for commuters, students, researchers and airport workers, creating a railway service that is truly integrated into the daily life of the area.
A smoother and more sustainable travel experience
The train is not just a means, but an integral part of the passenger experience.
Travelling from Milan or Bergamo to the gate will become more linear, comfortable and predictable, with environmental benefits as well: the new line will allow a reduction of up to 30% in travel times and a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to road transport.
It is estimated that, in the first years of operation, the share of passengers who will use the train could reach 25-30%, and then grow to 50% by 2030, replicating the success of the Malpensa Express (born in the 90s), which today transports over 5 million passengers a year.
A connected and competitive airport
The new infrastructure will make Milan-Bergamo the first Italian airport with a "network" railway model, connected not only with Milan but with all the Lombard capitals.
By 2030, future developments are conceivable, such as:
- a direct connection Bergamo Airport (BGY) with Malpensa (MXP) via Monza and Milan Porta Garibaldi (also connecting the territories of Saronno and Busto Arsizio to BGY);
- the interchange with the High Speed at the future Segrate-East Milan station;
- new dedicated tracks to improve the capacity and punctuality of trains (from Melzo to MI Lambrate)
Following the aforementioned enhancements and in relation to the trend in airport demand, the frequency of fast trains from Bergamo Airport to Milan may be increased from 2 to 3 trains/h per direction, providing for a greater number of Fast "Caravaggio Express" trains without intermediate stops between Bergamo C.le and Milan Porta Est.
An infrastructure that tells the story of the territory
The railway project is not only a work of engineering, but also a sign of identity: the new station and the access routes will be designed to integrate the airport with the city and the Lombard landscape. Materials, lights and spaces will tell the soul of Bergamo, a UNESCO heritage city, projected towards a future of innovation and sustainability.
The conference "An operating model for the railway connection with Bergamo airport" was attended by:
- Giovanni Sanga (President of SACBO),
- Paolo Franco (Councillor of the Lombardy Region),
- Pasquale Gandolfi (President of the Province of Bergamo),
- Elena Carnevali (Mayor of Bergamo),
- Franco Lucente (Councillor for Transport and Sustainable Mobility of the Lombardy Region),
- Diego Deponte (Systematica),
- Paolo Lio (PTS Clas),
- Gianni Scarfone (Director of SACBO and CIFI Milan),
- Giorgio Spadi (Dean of CIFI Milan section)
- Stefano Paleari (University of Bergamo).
