“This project has started long ago, but it took a long time to be implemented because of the procedures in place. This railway is not just a mode of transport, but creates a new mindset of travel that is about being friendly to the environment by reducing the use of vehicles.
This is the first swallow in the railway industry,” said Balluku.

According to her, the railway is 39 km long, of which 34 km is the existing Tirana-Durres track, which is being reconstructed and modernized, and 5 km is the new track from “Megatek” to Rinas airport.

Balluku said that the distance from the center of Tirana to the airport of Rinas will be traversed in only 12 minutes, while the journey between Tirana and Durrës will take 22 minutes.

“This is awesome given the traffic to Rinas. The railway will be the best option to get to the airport or to Durrës,” she said.
Balluku emphasized that currently the project includes the modernization of the current track, while the construction of stations and emplacements along the railway will be financed under a second package, for which we will apply to the EBRD.

“There are several parts in this process. The contract is applied for the first time in terms of railways according to the ‘design and build’ model. The process was done through an open international competition that involved a very large screening of all the companies that participated,” she said.

Balluku emphasized that work has also moved ahead with the expropriation process.

“The process was done in accordance with the laws in force and the agreements with the EBRD. Durrës is considered the most important juncture, as other railway routes connected with Corridor 8 will start from Durrës. We have applications for other parts of the Durrës-Rrogozhinë or Rrogozhinë-Pogradec railway to have a connection with North Macedonia and Greece,” said Balluku.
The minister also informed that they have started preparations for a much bigger project, related to the Vorë-Hani i Hoti railway.
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