Cervinia has announced “The One,” a landmark €197m, 3S cable car connection that will redefine access from the resort up to its Plateau Rosa high-altitude terrain on the Swiss border, linked to Zermatt’s ski slopes.
With a sub‑17‑minute journey for its nearly 6km and 1500 vertical metre ascent, it’s set to be one of the most ambitious lift‑engineering projects of modern times in the Alps. Unveiled during Breuil‑Cervinia’s 90th anniversary celebrations earlier this week, the new system is scheduled to open in December 2029.
The lift will be built as two interconnected 3S sections, firstly from Breuil to Plan Maison, then Plan Maison to Plateau Rosa, for a total distance of nearly 6km. With a very fast operating speed of 8m/s (29km/h), passengers will reach Plan Maison in 4.5 minutes and Plateau Rosa in around 12 minutes, delivering a total travel time of under 17 minutes. At the 90th anniversary celebrations Cervino Spa’s technical director, Mauro Joyeusaz, describes the project as “extraordinary even in its numbers,” noting its capacity of 3,000 passengers per hour and its resilience in high winds thanks to the 3S design’s three cables.
Construction will be led by Italian lift manufacturer Leitner, supported by regional civil‑engineering firms Ivies. Works have already begun, with full construction expected to start next year once final permits are secured in both Italy and Switzerland. The project carries a price tag close to €200 million, including €70 million from the Aosta Valley Region, with the remainder financed by lift company Cervino Spa.
Regional president Renzo Testolin says the lift will “break down a barrier to winter tourism,” enabling visitors to reach Zermatt without skis year-round and support 360‑day mountain access. The system’s upper station will sit above 3,400, demanding complex environmental and logistical planning, but its windproof engineering and rapid transport speeds are designed specifically for extreme alpine conditions.
Aesthetic and comfort upgrades are central to the project. Cabins designed by Pininfarina Architecture will offer panoramic views, quiet operation and modern interiors, while station architecture is being developed by Parma‑based studio Policreo.
Sustainability measures include renewable‑energy supply from CVA, photovoltaic panels at each station, heat pumps and a geothermal field at Plan Maison.
Cervino Spa president Federico Maquignaz says the lift’s name ‘The One: Our New Elevation’ reflects both the uniqueness of the Matterhorn and the scale of Cervinia’s next chapter.