Iosa Ghini's Marconi Express People Mover Opens in Bologna

The Marconi Express, an automated electric shuttle connecting Bologna's G. Marconi Airport to Bologna Centrale railway station, began passenger service on November 18, 2020. Designed by Iosa Ghini Associati, the 5-kilometer monorail features three stations—Aeroporto, Lazzaretto, and Stazione FS—and is supported by 125 concrete piles varying in height from 5.2 to 18 meters. The architectural concept, led by Massimo Iosa Ghini, draws inspiration from local rural building archetypes, with pile supports evoking Bologna's portico arches, portal inclinations referencing the Two Towers, and station forms recalling Emilia's plain dwellings. The structure includes photovoltaic panels integrated into a steel mesh, providing over 30% of its energy needs. Initially operating at reduced capacity due to pandemic restrictions, the system will increase frequency beyond the current 15-minute intervals as restrictions ease. Iosa Ghini Associati, founded in 1990 by Massimo Iosa Ghini (born 1959 in Borgo Tossignano), previously designed a bus stop in Hannover (1994) and renovated the Kröpcke metro station hub for the 2000 World Exposition.