The railway line presented as the direct link connecting Tirana and Durrës with Rinas Airport no longer appears to be a door-to-door solution for passengers. Documents show that the final station has been moved outside the airport’s territory, leaving travelers hundreds of meters from the terminal and raising new questions about cost, access and institutional responsibility.
From 60 meters near the terminal to around 500 meters away
In the October 21, 2021 document approving the construction permit for the infrastructure of the Durrës-Tirana line and the branch toward Rinas International Airport, the initial project envisaged that the station would be built around 60 meters from the terminal.
That should not obscure the main fact: later, according to the documents, Albanian Railways submitted two new alternatives, and the option was backed that places the station outside the airport’s territory, opposite the Air Force area. This brings the distance from the terminal to around 500 meters.
The decision was backed by the Ministry of Infrastructure
According to the documentation, the second alternative was supported by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, at the time when the institution was headed by Belinda Balluku, through a response signed by Deputy Minister Hantin Bonati.
Officially, the argument used was linked to the safety of the movement of vehicles and automobiles in the airport and road area. But for passengers, the practical effect is clear: the train no longer takes them close to the terminal, as had been envisaged in the first version of the project.
The line is shortened, while the solution for passengers remains unanswered
According to the new project, the station ends at kilometer 5+128, while in the existing variant the end of the line had been envisaged at kilometer 5+800. In practice, the railway segment is shortened by about 672 meters.
Albanian Railways has presented this as a choice that saves funds for the institution. At the same time, the documents themselves acknowledge that for travelers with suitcases, strollers or for persons with disabilities, an express shuttle-type service will be needed. However, there does not appear to be a detailed and final solution on how this transport to the terminal will be carried out and who will cover the cost.
EBRD: we are aware, but responsibility remains with the Albanian parties
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has confirmed that it is aware of the relocation of the railway station that will serve the airport. According to the EBRD’s version, assessments are being developed with Albanian Railways and other parties to identify a solution that guarantees a safe and efficient connection between the station and the terminal.
On the other hand, the EBRD clarified that it is a co-financier of the project, while responsibility for implementation and decision-making belongs to the Albanian institutions. This brings the focus back to the essential question: how was a change accepted that moves the train away from the very point where it was supposed to take passengers?
The Tirana-Rinas-Durrës railway project, worth about 130 million euros, has been presented by the government as a key investment for public transport and the connection to the airport.
But with the station moved away from the terminal, the issue does not remain only technical. It directly affects the functionality of the investment and accountability for a decision that, according to the documents, changed the essence of the service promised to citizens.