The Deputy Prime Minister, at the same time Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, inspected on Friday the works for the construction of the Tirana-Rinas-Durres railway.

Deputy PM Balluku was in the area of ??Shkozet where this project takes place, where she was closely acquainted with the works and their progress.

During the inspection, Balluku said that the works for this line had already entered a new phase. Number two of the government underlined that to give a new boost to the progress of the works, the modern "Tamping" machine has started operation.

"A machine that we have not seen before in Albania. The machine guides the tracks, creates stability in terms of gravel, and the processes needed to create this new railway line," said Balluku.

Evaluating the project, Balluku said that it has been advanced with other details that complete this work, such as the construction of 10 stations. "The Tirana-Rinas-Durres project has several components. It's not just the track we're driving at a good, steady, substantial speed. About 80% of the processes are done. On the other hand, we are also advancing with other components such as the part of the stations. The international competition for the stations is closed, we already have a winner. The conclusion of the contract is being negotiated, and then it will immediately start work on the construction of these 10 stations, which are foreseen in the original project of the entire railway," said Balluku.

The director of the Albanian Railway, Ergys Verdho, clarified that until now nearly 80% of the civil construction works have been completed, while the work is continuing.

"It is important that in November the work on the construction of the stations starts. There the forces will be concentrated in the part of the signaling and telecommunication cabins because this component is combined with the track and the first component of the construction of the line with the introduction of all the signaling and telecommunications in these buildings. The next stage is electrification," said Verdho.

Minister Balluku also focused on other railway projects, for which work will begin, thus reviving one of the important transport sectors. According to the project of this railway line, the travel time from Tirana-Durres will be 22 minutes and Tirana-Rinas only 12 minutes. 120 km/h will be the speed of the trains that will move along the Tirana-Airport-Durres railway.

The line will have a total of 11 stations, which will start from Durrës, to continue to Shkozet-Sukth-Vorë-Kashar, these existing lines need reconstruction. Then the railway line will continue to Laknas, Tirana Airport, and Tirana Public Transport Terminal.

The 9th and 10th stations are foreseen and designed to be built in the contract of the additional segment from the Tirana Public Transport Terminal to the New Boulevard. Meanwhile, the 11th station is supposed to be located at the intersection of "Jordan Misja"-New Boulevard.