The ribbon has been cut for the new rail link between Terminal 2 at Milan Malpensa Airport and Gallarate, on the Sempione railway line.
Milan Central Station to Gallarate
The project was promoted, coordinated and managed by Ferrovienord, a company belonging to the FNM group. From 23 January, all Trenord Malpensa Express trains departing from Milan Central Station will arrive in Gallarate via Terminals 1 and 2 of Milan Malpensa Airport and make the same journey in the opposite direction, departing from Gallarate.
Gallarate to the airport in eight minutes
With this new service it will be possible to reach the airport from Gallarate in eight minutes (Terminal 2) and 15 minutes (Terminal 1), compared to the half hour previously required. The project represents the completion of rail access from the north to Malpensa and is part of the EU's “Global Project” Malpensa T1 - Malpensa T2 - Sempione line, which has been operating since 2016 between Terminals T1 and T2. The completion of this project therefore enhances routes to the Milan area, making them more efficient, faster and more sustainable. The airport thus becoming an interchange hub with short- and medium-range, high-speed and cross-border rail services.
“Better service to Milan”
“SEA is celebrating this important project, not only because it creates a direct and fast rail link with Gallarate, an important city in the Malpensa area, but also because it lays the foundations for completing the railway upgrade around the airport through works that will involve the expansion of rail links between the airport and the northern part of the country, including Switzerland. Enabling better service to Milan and facilitating the introduction of high-speed trains, it is a fundamental part of the infrastructural upgrade to make Malpensa not only an airport hub, but also an intermodal hub for the country.” said Armando Brunini, CEO of SEA Milan Airport.s
Starting before the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics
The inauguration of the project is due to take place shortly before the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games, during which air traffic is expected to “experience a peak increase, especially in tourism, not unlike what is generally seen in July.” Andrea Severini, CEO of Trenord, added: ‘Today we are taking delivery of the result of years of work. The new connection speeds up travel between Gallarate and the airport and increases connections from Varese, Porto Ceresio and Lake Maggiore.”
