The construction site in the coastal city of Durres is buzzing with workers and machinery. They are rebuilding the 34 km stretch of railway between Durres and Tirana. Once the railway has been rebuilt and the new trains have arrived, travelling between Albania’s two largest cities will take only 20 minutes. This will be a huge milestone for Albania, where there hasn’t been any investment in the railway sector for more than 30 years. The former railway and trains deteriorated over time and today there is little passenger or freight rail transport. Most people rely on cars and buses for their daily commutes, which causes traffic jams in both cities and increases air pollution.

The railway reconstruction project is financed by the EBRD, with a loan of €36.9 million, and the European Union (EU), with an investment grant of up to €35.5 million under its Connectivity Agenda for the Western Balkans. An additional €2.75 million in grants from bilateral donors have been secured through the Western Balkans Investment Framework.

Infrastructure investments on such a large scale usually take years to prepare and complete, but they bring about significant long-term benefits. Switching from road to railway travel, which is safer and more environmentally friendly, will make travelling across the region easier and more comfortable for people and businesses.