TIRANA, June 9 – The Albanian government has launched a market consultation process to select the operator that will provide public passenger rail transport services on the Durrës-Tirana-Tirana International Airport railway line.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has published a call for expressions of interest. The ministry has invited railway companies and international consortia to submit their experience and operational capacities by July 26, 2026.
Before launching the procurement procedure, Albanian authorities aim to consult potential operators. The process will gather information on service models, technical requirements, and contracting approaches.
The future public service contract will run for 10 to 15 years. Initially, it will cover operations on the Durrës-Tirana-Rinas line, which is currently undergoing modernization.
In addition, the selected operator will provide and maintain the train fleet required for the service. The operator may own the rolling stock, lease it, or secure it through other arrangements. At the same time, Albanian authorities favor electric trains in line with the new infrastructure standards.
The initial service package envisages trains covering around 1.1 million kilometers per year on the Tirana-Durrës and Tirana-Airport routes. It includes the Tirana-Durrës and Tirana-Airport routes. During the first phase, the service will require four electric train units. With reserve capacity included, the fleet could reach six units.
According to the preliminary timetable, authorities expect to launch the competitive selection procedure during the fourth quarter of 2026. As a result, regular passenger services on the Durrës-Tirana-Rinas line are expected to begin by the end of 2027.
Looking ahead, the contract could expand to other sections of the national railway network, including the Vora-Hani i Hotit corridor and the Durrës-Rrogozhina-Pogradec axis.
/a.p./
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