Albania plans to fully electrify the Tirana-Durrës railway line and its branch to Tirana International Airport by the end of 2027, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said on Thursday.
Presenting a bill to Parliament to ratify a loan agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Karakaçi said the financing would complete the funding package for one of Albania’s largest railway investments in decades.
Under the project, Albania will electrify the Tirana-Durrës line and the airport branch, build the necessary power infrastructure and certify the system under European Union standards. As a result, the country will move closer to launching its first modern electric rail service.
“Civil works have been completed, signalling systems are nearing completion and construction of the new stations is under way,” Karakaçi told lawmakers. Meanwhile, electrification will begin once Parliament ratifies the agreement.
Furthermore, the minister said the Tirana-Durrës project forms part of a broader programme to modernise Albania’s railway network. As part of this programme, the government plans to extend the line to Tirana’s central railway station, build a modern train maintenance facility and introduce a public service contract for rail operations.
In addition, Karakaçi said procurement for the reconstruction of the Vorë-Shkodër-Hani i Hotit railway is nearing completion. The strategic project will connect Albania with Montenegro and the wider European rail network. At the same time, authorities are preparing to rebuild the Durrës-Rrogozhinë section and design the extension to Pogradec.
Looking ahead, Karakaçi described the proposed Durrës-Prishtina railway as a long-term strategic priority, while efforts continue to secure financing.
Overall, he said the investments would help Albania build a modern national railway network integrated into European transport corridors. Moreover, the projects are expected to support economic growth, strengthen Corridor VIII and promote greener transport.
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