The Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Enea Karakaçi, presented on Thursday in the Parliament the draft law for the ratification of the loan agreement between the Republic of Albania and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), for the project “Albanian Railways – Rehabilitation of the Tirana-Durrës Railway and Construction of the Railway Connection to Tirana International Airport: Project Expansion”.

Karakaçi announced that the agreement with the EBRD concludes the financial package of one of the largest railway projects implemented in the country in recent decades, enabling the full electrification of the Tirana-Durrës line and the Rinas station.

“This funding makes possible the full electrification of the line, the construction of the energy infrastructure and certification according to European Union standards, bringing for the first time a modern railway service with electric trains,” the minister said.

He stressed that the civil works for this project have been completed, the signaling systems are nearing finalization, while the new stations are in the process of construction.

With the approval of the agreement, according to him, the electrification phase of the line also begins.

The government’s objective, said Karakaçi, is that by the end of 2027, Albanian citizens will have at their disposal a modern, safe railway line in accordance with European standards.

The minister underlined that the Tirana-Durres project and the connection to the “Mother Teresa” Airport are part of a broader program for the development of railway transport in Albania.

He announced that in parallel, projects are advancing for the extension of the railway towards the central station of Tirana, the construction of a modern train maintenance system, as well as the preparation of a public service contract to guarantee a qualitative and sustainable railway transport.

According to Karakaçi, the procedures for the reconstruction of the Vora-Shkodra-Hani i Hotit line have also advanced, a segment of strategic importance for the connection of Albania with Montenegro and the European transport network.

The minister added that the procedures for the reconstruction of the Durrës-Rrogozhina segment are also in process, while the engineering project for the continuation of the line from Rrogozhina to Pogradec is being drafted.

Focusing on strategic projects, Karakaçi singled out the Durrës-Prishtina railway connection, which he considered one of the long-term priorities, for which work is being done to secure financing and create the conditions for its implementation.