Albania - General Information

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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 lines: 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.