Minister of State for Parliamentary Relations, Taulant Balla, presented the draft law “On the ratification of the amending agreement of the loan agreement, between the Republic of Albania and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, for the financing of the project “Albanian Railways – rehabilitation of the Tirana-Durres railway line and construction of the railway line to Tirana International Airport”.

The agreement was approved by the Assembly after the discussions. Speaking about the draft law for the Tirana-Durres railway and the construction of the railway line to Tirana International Airport, Balla said that, “the train will be of the best European standards.”

He said that the agreement provides for an additional Euro 40.7 million for the construction of 12 train stations.

The amendment consists of increasing the value of the loan initially granted by the EBRD from Euro 36.87 million to Euro 77.57 million. Therefore, through this amending agreement, an additional financing of Euro 40.7 million will be granted for the project in question. This additional financing will have a significant impact on the implementation of the project as a whole, as well as on its continuity and sustainability during the process of using this railway line.

“I hope that next year we will have the buildings ready thanks to this investment and also the electrification of a part of the railway line”, said Balla. He underlined that “it is about the finalization of this project to be completed in 12 months from the moment of the approval of this draft law”. “So in February 2026, which coincides with the finalization of the new railway station buildings,” said Balla.

So far, Balla said, “80% of the works of the current contract have been completed, which consists of a 34-kilometer fully rehabilitated line between Tirana and Durrës and a completely new 5-kilometer railway line to TIA airport”.

“With the addition that is approved thanks to the vote of the Assembly, the construction of 12 new railway station buildings according to the best European standards will also be possible,” said Balla. “The last component in the loan extension is also the coverage of supervision costs in the amount of Euro 1.2 million,” said Balla.

Bala emphasized that “this important historical project for Albania will also be completed with the section from the Tirana Public Transport Terminal station near the Kamza turn to the New Boulevard of Tirana”.

“The additional financing of Euro 40.7 million will be used for the construction of new railway station buildings, including the arrangement of external squares and platform covers,” said Balla, among other things.