ALBANIA —State-owned rail operator Albanian Railways (Hekurudha Shqiptare - HSH) has issued an infrastructure tender with an estimated value of EUR 90 million for the rehabilitation of the railway line between Durres and Rrogozhine. HSH is the national authority tasked with operating, maintaining, and modernizing rail transport assets across Albania. The strategic procurement project aims to upgrade regional transport corridors and enhance cross-border connectivity across Western Balkan rail networks.
The scope of work comprises the detailed design and construction of approximately 34 kilometers of permanent railway line, largely following the existing corridor alignment. Project specifications include the construction and reconstruction of railway bridges, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, the minor realignment and reconstruction of a 380-meter tunnel, and the modernization of level crossings. In addition, the contractor will install European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 1 and GSM-R telecommunications subsystems, reconstruct five passenger stations, construct or rehabilitate parallel access roads, and implement climate adaptation measures. All civil works and infrastructure components will be designed and built to accommodate the future electrification of the line under subsequent development phases.
This development represents a critical milestone in modernizing Albania's primary transport infrastructure and integrating its railway network into the European Union's broader Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Corridor VIII. The Durres-Rrogozhine rail segment serves as a major commercial artery connecting key coastal port facilities in Durres with southern trade routes and inland logistics nodes. Upgrading the line to international safety and signaling standards will significantly increase line capacity, improve train speeds, and lower operational maintenance costs. Moreover, incorporating climate resilience measures ensures long-term operational stability against severe weather disruptions in coastal transit zones.
From an industry and policy perspective, the tender underscores ongoing international financial and technical support for Western Balkans infrastructure development. The integration of digital signaling standards such as ETCS Level 1 and GSM-R signals a transition toward modernized, interoperable rail transport across Southeastern Europe. For international engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors, signaling technology vendors, and civil infrastructure firms, the contract offers a major opportunity to participate in regional transport expansion. Furthermore, upgrading freight capacity will provide logistics companies and commercial shippers with a more cost-effective, lower-emission alternative to long-haul road transport across Western Balkan trade corridors.
The tender is published on Bidsinfo.com, and the full tender details are available on https://www.bidsinfo.com/ref/36378680/rehabilitation-of-railway-line-between-durres-and-rrogozhine.
