Tirana-Durrës-Rinas rail set to finish in 2026; electric trains planned for early 2027

Albania’s new railway linking Tirana, Durrës and Rinas Airport is expected to be completed in 2026, while the electric train is planned to become operational in the first quarter of 2027. The line will have seven stations and, for the first time, it will connect the capital directly to the international airport.

Why is this important: Albania’s rail network has been severely degraded over the past four decades. The current project, backed by the EU and the EBRD, marks the most ambitious upgrading project yet for the country’s railways and is expected to significantly reduce car traffic between Tirana, Durrës and Rinas which is positioned as a core public transport hub.

Context: The Minister of Infrastructure and Energy inspected station works and said the financing agreement with the EBRD and European Commission for the line’s electrification is close to completion, and aims to start with the implementation by next year.

Furthermore, European lenders are expanding support across the network. A €30 million top-up will help rebuild and electrify the Durrës-Rrogozhinë railway line (about 34 km), including station buildings – complementing a €60 million in financing from the European Investment Bank signed earlier this year through the Western Balkans Investment Framework. The Durrës–Rrogozhinë section forms part of Pan-European Corridor VIII, which links southern Italy to Bulgaria’s Black Sea ports and will create Albania’s first rail connection with North Macedonia, boosting cross-border mobility and economic integration.

What else: The EBRD has already financed major rail schemes such as Tiranë–Durrës and Vorë–Hani i Hotit. Collectively, these projects are expected to shift freight and passenger travel from road to rail, cut emissions, and align Albania’s transport standards with the EU’s environmental and safety norms.