Waiting for a reawakening, the Albanian railways hit the “death point” last year. In the 12 months left behind, only 7,740 passengers traveled by train. Data from the Institute of Statistics shows that compared to 2021, the number of passengers on trains fell by more than three times.
"The railway sector has been a somewhat dormant sector after the 1990s and the focus has been on other modes of transport," says Eriola Muka.
Freight transport has also followed the decline in passenger numbers. Last year, 542 tons of goods were transported by rail, down from 550 tons in 2023. Coal and lignite, crude oil and natural gas accounted for the vast majority, over 98 percent, of goods transported in the past 12 months.
"Recent years have been used to conduct feasibility studies with the aim of rehabilitating existing lines or building new ones," adds Muka.
This at a time when the railway line in use increased to 253 kilometers from 204 kilometers a year ago. But the panorama of the Albanian Railway is expected to change quickly. After Tirana-Durres with an extension to Rinas airport, works are expected to start next year for the rehabilitation of the Vorë-Hani i Hotit railway. Also, the construction of the Durrës-Pogradec and Durrës-Prishtinë railway infrastructures is expected to follow.
"First, to consolidate the railway infrastructure. Second, to connect with the Balkan countries, but also to connect with the pan-European corridors, bypassing the Balkan countries and going to the European ones," said Muka.
Currently, according to INSTAT data, the railway lines still in operation are the Kufi-Gjorm line with a length of 93 kilometers, Durrës-Elbasan 76 kilometers, Rrogozhinë-Fier 79 kilometers and Fier-Vlorë 35 kilometers. (A2 Televizion)
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