Albania - General Information: Difference between revisions

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There are no double track lines, except in the immediate vicinity of principal stations, and the track used depends on operating convenience.
There are no double track lines, except in the immediate vicinity of principal stations, and the track used depends on operating convenience.


== Other railways ==
== Other Railways ==
None
None



Revision as of 16:45, 7 November 2010

National railway system

Hekurudha Shqipëtare (HSH)

Language

Albanian

Currency

Lek

UIC code

numeric 41; alpha AL.

Timetable

No timetable is published by HSH, although train times are posted at stations. The Ministry of Transport website contains an outline timetable: go to Transporti > Transporti Hekurudhor > Orari...

Gauge

Standard

Electrification

None

Rule of the road

There are no double track lines, except in the immediate vicinity of principal stations, and the track used depends on operating convenience.

Other Railways

None

Tourist line

None

Metro

None

Trams

None

Recent and future changes

The branch to Rreshen closed to passenger traffic in November 1996 and the track was used to repair damage to the Shkodër line. The line between Fier and Ballsh closed to passenger traffic in 2001 but remains open for freight. The Durrës avoiding line linking the Tiranë and Elbasan lines, formerly used by passenger trains in summer, appears to have been out of use since 2006, the line being heavily overgrown.

Special notes

By comparison with other European systems, HSH is a very primitive railway, partly due to damage arising from civil disturbances in 1990-92 and 1997.

There are no international passenger trains to Albania, the one railway into Montenegro being used only for freight traffic. Principal routes to Western Europe are by air, or ferry from Brindisi (Italy).

Tickets are not sold in advance, and are valid only on the first train following issue.

There is no railrover ticket covering Albania, but fares are extremely cheap.

Further information about Albanian Railways can be found at www.angelfire.com/ak/hekurudha/index.html

Maps

There is no official HSH railway map. Quail Map Company publishes the Albanian Railway Guide, which includes track diagrams, motive power details and other information. General maps can be misleading, because they may be based on deliberately inaccurate information provided by the former communist government.