Durrës–Tiranë railway

The Durrës–Tiranë railway was a railway line which initially joined the two biggest cities in Albania, Durrës and Tirana. The line connected to the Shkodër–Vorë railway halfway in Vorë, and connected onwards to the Durrës-Vlorë railway and Durrës-Pogradec railway in Durrës.

The Durrës–Tiranë line was built during 1948-1949, based exclusively on the work of volunteers and was the second passenger railway in Albania after the Durrës-Peqin railway which had been completed a year earlier. It was operated by Hekurudha Shqiptare.

In September 2013, the Tirana end of the line was dismantled as the Tirana station was torn down to make way for the lengthening of the Tirana main boulevard. As a result, passengers to and from Tirana had to initially use the Vorë station in 2013, and later the renovated Kashar station in May 2015. The station in Kashar was itself closed in 2018, ending the rail connection from Durrës to Tirana. There is now no rail connection between Tirana and Durrës.

In 2021, HSH signed a contract with Italian company INC for the rehabilitation of the Durrës-Tirana railway line and the construction of a new leg linking the line to Mother Teresa Airport. Works are now expected to finish in 2025, after two delays from the original 2024 deadline.

History
The railway was 38 km long connecting the two most important cities of Albania, Tirana, the capital, and Durrës, the second largest city. It was built during 1948-1949 and was the second standard gauge passenger railway in Albania after that which linked Durrës to Peqin, which was completed in 1948.

The works started from the Shkozet station (near Durrës) on April 11, 1948. Overall 29,000 young people of the Labour Youth Union of Albania and 1400 qualified technicians from all Albania participated to the building of the railway. In addition, young volunteers sent from the Youth sections of the Communist parties of Bulgaria and Yugoslavia participated in the construction. During the Albanian-Yugoslavian split in 1948, the Yugoslavian volunteers were accused of sabotage, especially the engineers. The works continued under the supervision of Soviet engineer Valeri Gaydarov. Rails were imported from the Soviet Union through the port of Durrës. The volunteering brigades had as a goal to finish the railway by the 31st anniversary of the Red Army, on 23 February 1949, and the goal was successfully achieved.

Two of the most important works during construction were the Rrashbull Tunnel (212 m) and the Erzen Bridge (91 m long). The bridge was finished on October 16, 1948, the 40th birthday of then Prime Minister, Enver Hoxha. The tunnel was dug by the Bulgarian youth group Georgi Dimitrov, which was eventually given the Flag of the Brigades award (Flamuri i Brigadave). The brigade of the Albanian Police was instead awarded five times the Attacking Award (Sulmues). The inauguration was made by future would be Politburo member Spiro Koleka.

2010 accident
An accident occurred on the railway on July 25, 2010. A police SUV was on the rail and the train could not avoid the collision with it. As a result, the police car was pushed for a certain distance until the train went to a complete stop. Not only were the three Albanian policemen not injured, but they also went to argue with the machinist to accuse him that he had to stop earlier and pay more attention.

Renovation of the line
In October 2016, the tender for the renovation of the entire line was about to start with a cost of US$81.5 million.

In 2019, another tender was announced.

In 2021, HSH signed a contract with Italian company INC for the rehabilitation of the Durrës-Tirana railway line and the construction of the new leg extending to Mother Teresa Airport.

In 2023, the Albanian government said the works are set to be completed in 2024. The completion of the project was initially pushed back three months due to delays in the construction of several bridges, then delayed another year to 2025 to accommodate the stations closer to the city center of Tirana.