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. Last week, 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 Minister of State for Parliamentary Relations, Taulant Balla, in presenting the draft law “On the ratification of the amending agreement of the loan agreement, for the financing of the project “Albanian Railways - rehabilitation of the Tirana-Durrës railway line and construction of the railway line to Tirana International Airport”, said that 80% of the works of the current contract have been completed, which consists of 34 kilometers of the fully rehabilitated line between Tirana and Durrës and a completely new railway line to the Tirana airport of 5 kilometers.

"We need to move forward with a series of projects, which are concretizing our vision of Albania 2030 every day. There are all Albanians who no longer want to go to Durrës by van, or by bus, they want to go by train. We had abandoned a project in 2005, someone came here and canceled it because he didn't like the train, because he had never known the train. Now it will be done. The train will be of the best European standards. The finalization of this project is 12 months from the moment of the approval of the draft law. “So far, 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 Rinas Airport,” said Balla.

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.