Albania's railways are in decline. Previously, the passenger traffic was 4 million people a year, and now it is 300 thousand people. The degradation of the railway system has been accompanied by reductions and cancellations of trains.
The largest transport hub in the country is located in the city of Tirana (capital). At the metropolitan railway station, passengers change trains from train to bus and vice versa. The main station is a two-story building in the city center. Tickets for Albanian trains are available on the Internet, on the website ru.rail.cc, as well as at the box office.
Condition of the railway sphere
Currently, passenger trains move between large settlements with a frequency of 3 times a day. The railway system is operated by HSH - the National Railway Company of Albania. Passengers practically do not use the railway, preferring buses. Trains were renewed with decommissioned Italian trains. They are very similar to Russian commuter trains. Almost nothing is left of the developed railway network in the country, with the exception of three sections with the movement of passenger trains. There are only two junction stations in Albania: Rogozhino and Shkozet. The railway network does not cover the entire Albanian territory. Some small towns remain inaccessible.
A peculiarity of the country's railways is that tickets are not sold in advance, they can only be bought at the station and for the next train. Train fares are low. The train fare is calculated at the rate of $ 1 for 50 km.
Passenger Transportation
The fall in popularity of the railway was facilitated by the increased number of cars. After the construction of the expressway connecting Tirana and Durres, trains were less in demand. Passengers are offered trains of the same class. The average speed of movement of the trains is 40 km / h. They are deprived of bathrooms and other amenities. International railway communication takes place on the Shkoder - Podgorica route. Near the Albanian border, there are stations such as Bar (Montenegro), Yavanina (Greece), Tetovo (Macedonia).
Railway transport is significantly inferior in the quality of services to bus transport. The country has a well-developed intercity and intercity bus service. In Albania, there is no other urban transport than bus. Trains in the country are used by people who have time, as they move very slowly.
