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Private company

Hekurudha Shqiptare

Logo: Kj1595, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

State-owned operator of Albanian railways

Hekurudha Shqiptare or HSH (Albanian Railways) is the state-owned operator of the Albanian railway system and became a private company in 2005. The system's main passenger terminal was Durrës station, located in the port city of Durrës. HSH's infrastructure used to run east to Pogradec (up to Librazhd as of 2012), south to Vlorë and north to Shkodër.2 It employed 1,100 people in 2016.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1945Founded1

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Durrës - old railway station
Photo: Albinfo, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

Hekurudha Shqiptare or HSH (Albanian Railways) is the state-owned operator of the Albanian railway system and became a private company in 2005. The system's main passenger terminal was Durrës station, located in the port city of Durrës.2

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Network rehabilitation

Tirana–Rinas–Durres line

Construction work to upgrade the Durrës–Tiranë line and to link it with Rinas Airport with electric-powered trains started in 2021 with a loan from EBRD. Works are expected to finish in 2027.

From Tirana station to the Tirana International Airport, the travel time is expected to be reduced to 12 minutes, with three stops, while Tirana-Durrës is estimated at 22 minutes, with eight stops.

Durrës–Rrogozhina line modernization

The Government of Albania and the European Investment Bank have signed an agreement for a EU financial package of EUR 90.5 million for the reconstruction of Durrës – Rrogozhina railway. An agreement was signed on April 8, 2025, during High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas’ official visit to Albania.

Vorë–Hani i Hotit line modernization

Reconstruction works on the Vorë–Hani i Hotit railway line, Albania’s only international rail connection, are being carried out to modernise and electrify the 120 km of track between Vorë and the Montenegrin border, enabling passenger trains to operate at speeds of up to 100 km/h and significantly improving freight transport. With an estimated investment of €356 million, the rehabilitation forms part of the Western Balkans Economic and Investment Plan and represents an indicative extension of the Mediterranean TEN-T Core Network into the region.

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The works include track upgrades, electrification, the renovation of 12 stations, and the construction of a new freight station at Lezhë 2, alongside safety measures such as secured level crossings and service roads. The project is co-financed by EU grants through the Western Balkans Investment Framework, together with loans from the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Proposed Pristina–Durrës line

Approval was given by the Albanian and Kosovo governments in 2021 to a feasibility study of a Pristina–Durrës route to be undertaken in 2023. The initial findings are now being developed into a full plan for the track.

Passenger services

In 2015, some rail stations and rolling stock along the Durres-Tirane line were renovated and adopted a red and white livery. The scenic Librazhd-Pogradec line was closed for passenger traffic in 2012. The stored locomotives and carriages from Prrenjas are being moved to Elbasan. As a result, this section may be dismantled, as it doesn't link any major cities.

There are several freight-only branch lines. Occasional freight trains may run between Podgorica and Shkodër and between Durrës and the oil refinery at Ballsh. The Tirana-Shkodër line is closed, except for the Durrës Elbasan train and a section between Shkodër and Lac.

From Wikipedia’s article on Hekurudha Shqiptare, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Employees over time

  • 20161,1001

Timeline

  1. 1945Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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