EU Approves EUR 13.2M Grant For Albania Rail

The European Commission has approved a EUR 13.2 million grant for the electrification of the Durrës–Tirana railway line in Albania. This funding is administered through the Western Balkans Investment Framework as part of a larger EUR 171 million package designated for regional infrastructure and private sector support.

The total financial structure for the Albanian rail project is valued at approximately EUR 85.6 million. This includes a EUR 36.9 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a previous EUR 35.5 million grant from the European Union, and the most recent EUR 13.2 million allocation from the WBIF.

Work on the 42 km corridor is being executed by Italian contractor INC Spa. The project involves the rehabilitation of the 34.5 km section connecting Tirana with the port city of Durrës, along with the construction of a new 7.4 km rail link to Rinas International Airport.

Upon its scheduled completion by the end of 2024, the modernized line is designed for electric train operations at a maximum speed of 120 km/h. The civil engineering scope includes the construction of two new tunnels and the reconstruction of seven existing tunnels to meet current technical standards for interoperability.

This infrastructure project aligns Albania with the Trans-European Transport Network, positioning the line as a component of the pan-European Corridor VIII. The route provides a direct rail connection between Albania’s capital, its primary seaport at Durrës, and its main international airport.