Durrës–Tiranë railway
Encyclopedia
The Durrës–Tiranë railway is a 38 km railway
line which joins the two biggest cities in Albania
: Durrës
and Tirana
. The line connects to the Shkodër–Vorë railway
halfway in Vorë
, and to the Durrës-Vlorë railway in Durrës. The railway was built during 1948-1949 based exclusively on work of volunteers and was the second passenger railway in Albania after the Durrës-Peqin railway which had been completed a year earlier. It is operated by Hekurudha Shqiptare.
, which had started in 1940, and was completed in 1948.
The works started from the Shkozet station (near Durrës
) on April 11, 1948. Overall 29,000 young people 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 . The brigade of the Albanian Police was instead awarded five times the Attacking Award . The inauguration was made by future would be Politburo
member Spiro Koleka.
In 2003 Fatos Nano
, then prime minister of Albania, signed a contract worth $95m with General Electric
to modernize the stretch of railway by electrifying it and also by building an 8 km spur to link the Rinas
airport to Tirana. Deemed far too expensive, the contract was canceled by the incoming government of Sali Berisha
, and became the subject of a litigation. In March 2010 a US
court ordered the Albanian government to pay $20.6m in compensation to General Electric and, in May 2010, the Albanian authorities announced they would sue the minister of transport on the charge of abuse of power
.
will be upgraded and moved from its original position. This will enable additional trains to terminate there, instead of its current position. The new station will also improve the terminating capacity of the station.
|}
and Durrës
.
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
line which joins the two biggest cities in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
: Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
and Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
. The line connects to the Shkodër–Vorë railway
Shkodër–Vorë railway
The Shkodër–Vorë railway is a railway between Shkodër and Vorë in Albania.The line connects to the Podgorica–Shkodër railway in Shkodër, the uncompleted Milot–Klos railway in Milot and the Durrës–Tiranë railway in Vorë.- Overview :...
halfway in Vorë
Vorë
Vorë or Vora is a municipality in Tirana District, Tirana County in Albania.While small, it is located at a major road junction and railway junction.-References:...
, and to the Durrës-Vlorë railway in Durrës. The railway was built during 1948-1949 based exclusively on work of volunteers and was the second passenger railway in Albania after the Durrës-Peqin railway which had been completed a year earlier. It is operated by Hekurudha Shqiptare.
History
The railway is 38 km long and connects the two most important cities of Albania, Durrës and Tirana. It was built during 1948-1949 and was the second standard gauge passenger railway in Albania after that of Durrës-PeqinPeqin
Peqin is the capital of the Peqin District in central Albania. The town has a population of 10,000.The ancient name of Peqin was Claudiana. The city's modern name derives from the Ottoman form Bekleyin, which means a place of hospitality. During Ottoman rule Peqin belonged to the Sanjak of Elbasan...
, which had started in 1940, and was completed in 1948.
The works started from the Shkozet station (near Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
) on April 11, 1948. Overall 29,000 young people 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
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
participated in the construction. During the Albanian-Yugoslavian split in 1948 the Yugoslavian volunteers were accused of sabotage
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
, especially the engineers. The works continued under the supervision of Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
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
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, 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
Erzen
The Erzen is a river in western Albania. Its source is in the mountains east of Tirana, near the village Shëngjergj. It flows west through Bërzhitë, Petrelë, Vaqarr, Ndroq, Shijak and Sukth. It flows into the Adriatic Sea near Sukth, north of Durrës...
Bridge (91 m long). The bridge was finished on October 16, 1948, the 40th birthday of then Prime Minister, Enver Hoxha
Enver Hoxha
Enver Halil Hoxha was a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary andthe leader of Albania from the end of World War II until his death in 1985, as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania...
. The tunnel was dug by the Bulgarian youth group Georgi Dimitrov
Georgi Dimitrov
Georgi Dimitrov Mikhaylov , also known as Georgi Mikhaylovich Dimitrov , was a Bulgarian Communist politician...
, which was eventually given the Flag of the Brigades award . The brigade of the Albanian Police was instead awarded five times the Attacking Award . The inauguration was made by future would be Politburo
Politburo of the Party of Labour of Albania
The Politburo was the leading organ of the Party of Labour of Albania. The following is the composition of the Politburo that would be formed after every Congress of the Party. The politburo for the 1941-1948 period is not included....
member Spiro Koleka.
In 2003 Fatos Nano
Fatos Nano
Fatos Thanas Nano is an Albanian economist who was Prime Minister of Albania during several periods, the first leader of the Socialist Party of Albania, and member of the Albanian Parliament from 1991 to 1996 and 1997 to 2009...
, then prime minister of Albania, signed a contract worth $95m with General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
to modernize the stretch of railway by electrifying it and also by building an 8 km spur to link the Rinas
Rinas
Rinas is a village in the county of Durrës, Albania, about 25 km Northwest of the capital, Tirana. It is the site of Tirana International Airport....
airport to Tirana. Deemed far too expensive, the contract was canceled by the incoming government of Sali Berisha
Sali Berisha
Sali Ram Berisha is an Albanian politician and cardiologist, currently the Prime Minister of Albania and the leader of Democratic Party of Albania ....
, and became the subject of a litigation. In March 2010 a US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
court ordered the Albanian government to pay $20.6m in compensation to General Electric and, in May 2010, the Albanian authorities announced they would sue the minister of transport on the charge of abuse of power
Abuse of Power
Abuse of Power is a novel written by radio talk show host Michael Savage.- Plot :Jack Hatfield is a hardened former war correspondent who rose to national prominence for his insightful, provocative commentary...
.
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.Tirana station upgrade
Tirana rail stationTirana Rail Station
Tirana Railway Station is the central railway hub of Tirana, Albania. The railway is connected to other cities in Albania including Vlorë and Durrës. The railway station is said to have no luggage office.-See also:*Durrës–Tiranë railway...
will be upgraded and moved from its original position. This will enable additional trains to terminate there, instead of its current position. The new station will also improve the terminating capacity of the station.
Stations
|}
| Station | Image | Opened | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durrës Durrës Rail Station Durrës Rail Station is the main railway station in Durrës, Albania. The rail station is connected to other cities in Albania including Vlorë and the capital Tirana.... |
|||
| Sukth | Summer only | ||
| Vorë Vorë Rail Station Vorë Rail Station is a railway station in Vorë, Albania. The rail station is connected to Durrës and the capital Tirana.... |
|||
| Kashar | Summer only | ||
| Kamëz | Summer only | ||
| Tirana Tirana Rail Station Tirana Railway Station is the central railway hub of Tirana, Albania. The railway is connected to other cities in Albania including Vlorë and Durrës. The railway station is said to have no luggage office.-See also:*Durrës–Tiranë railway... |
27 January 1949 |
Timetable
During tourist season an extra train engine is used to ensure a good connection between TiranaTirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
and Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
.