Albania's railways will meet European standards by 2030
The Albanian railway network is predominantly made up of single-track, non-electrified lines. Now that the country is fully integrated into European transport corridors, plans are underway for its modernization.
Although the Albanian railway network was established relatively recently compared to the rest of Europe, only beginning after the Second World War, it has so far maintained a level that could be described as 19th-century when compared to the continent's standards, with single-track and non-electrified lines. The only positive aspect has been the adoption of the same European track gauge, but everything else falls far behind. However, a historic turning point is now on the horizon.
Thanks to a drastically changed geopolitical landscape affecting the entire Balkans, Albanian railways intend to fully integrate into the European corridors. One of the first concrete steps in this direction was the signing in April 2025 of a financing package provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The total amount is just over 90 million euros, with 60 million of it guaranteed by Europe. These funds will be used to reconstruct a railway section spanning just under 40 kilometres, starting from Durrës, the largest Albanian port on the Adriatic and one of the country's main economic hubs.
The goal is to connect the port with European transit corridors. The line reaches Rrogozhinë, the first stage of a railway development plan both towards southern Albania and North Macedonia. This section is part of the Pan-European Corridor VIII, one of the ten major transport routes designed to facilitate travel between Western and Eastern Europe, linking the ports of Bari and Brindisi with Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria.
The reconstruction of the Durres-Rrogozhinë section will involve a total investment of 120 million euros, a significant portion of which, as mentioned, is already available. For Albania, this represents only the beginning of an investment programme in infrastructure that will engage the railways by 2030, with economic and political implications, as these improvements will serve as a stepping stone for the country's potential accession to the European Union.
The EIB has already expressed its willingness to finance the construction of another section of the Pan-European Corridor VIII, alongside a loan to revive another major Albanian infrastructure project: the 120-kilometre railway between Vorë, a key junction halfway between Durrës and the capital Tirana, and Hani i Hotit, which marks the northern border between Albania and Montenegro.
The foundations for incorporating Tirana's railways into the European framework were laid back in October 2021 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Bulgaria, Albania, and North Macedonia to complete missing links and enhance the railway network among the three countries by 2030, also with the aim of securing the necessary funding. In particular, Bulgaria is involved with the line between Sofia and the border with North Macedonia at Gyueshevo. There is also an extensive programme of upgrades planned in North Macedonia, including modernisation and electrification of around 160 kilometres of tracks, while Albania aims to upgrade routes centred on Durrës, such as the line towards Greece at Pogradec, as well as to complete the missing connection with North Macedonia.
Piermario Curti Sacchi
