New Railway, Construction of Stations Begins
The Tirana-Durrës-Rinas airport railway project is advancing towards the opening foreseen in 2026. Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku, said that that the contracted company is ready to start work on the construction of new station buildings along the railway line.
Balluku announced that the Tirana-Durrës-Rinas railway will have nine stops, which will offer modern and comfortable conditions for all passengers.
“Work is continuing, very soon a new travel alternative for all citizens will be faster, cheaper and environmentally friendly,” said Balluku.
The Tirana-Durrës-Rinas railway line will be a fully electric line, with a significant impact on the field of transport in the country.
Passengers' interest in using the train as a means of transport is growing. According to the latest INSTAT report, 666 passengers used rail transport in the fourth quarter of 2024. Compared to the same period a year ago, the number of passengers who chose the train as a means of travel was 68.6% higher.
Meanwhile, the volume of goods transported via railways amounted to 133.6 thousand tons in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking an increase of 1.8%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. In February, the Parliament paved the way for further advancement of works for the Durrës-Tirana-Airport line project, where the additional loan agreement worth Euro 40.7 million was approved.
This additional funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction (EBRD) will be used for new components of the project: Construction of 8 new buildings, including squares, parking lots and passenger platform covers; Price indexation for basic construction materials; Supervision of works for the buildings.
The additional financing comes in full compliance and coordination with international partners, the EBRD and the EU. 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.
