HSH train on the Tirana-Durrës line

Albanian Railways (in Albanian: Hekurudhë ë Shqipërisë (HSH)) operate system of 1435mm gauge (standard gauge) rail system in Albania. All trains are hauled by Czech-built ČKD diesel-electric locomotives. ÄŒKD Tatra-T3 tram car in Kiev. ...

The country's first standard gauge line was not built until 1947, although some narrow gauge lines were built earlier. There is one international link, with Montenegro, although this line (from Shkodër to Podgorica) is currently disused. The HSH passenger system consists of the following lines: Anthem Oj, svijetla majska zoro Oh, Bright Dawn of May Montenegro() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Podgorica Official languages Serbian (Ijekavian dialect)1 Government Republic  -  President Filip Vujanović  -  Prime Minister Željko Å turanović Independence due to the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro   -  Declared June 3, 2006   -  Recognized June... Ãœsküdar, a district of Istanbul, was also known as Scutari. ... Coordinates Mayor Dr. Miomir MugoÅ¡a (DPS - SDP) Municipality area 1,441 km² Population (2003 census)  - city  - municipality  - density 136,473 169,132 117,4 pop per km² Time zone  - Standard  - Summer (DST) CET (UTC+1) CEST (UTC+2) Founded Before 12th Century as Birziminium Area code +382 81 Car...

• Shkodër-Milot-Vorë-Durrës-Rrogozhinë-Fier-Vlorë
• Vorë-Tirana
• Rrogozhinë-Elbasan-Pogradec

There are also several freight-only branch lines. Üsküdar, a district of Istanbul, was also known as Scutari. ... View of Durrës Durrës (historical names: Δυρράχιον,Durazzo, Epidamnos, Драч, Dyrrhachium) is the most ancient and one of the most economically important cities of Albania. ... Rrogozhinë is an Albanian town in Kavajë District, Kavajë. His population current is 28,758. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Vlorë shot from satellit. ... Tirana (Albanian: Tiranë or Tirana) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Albania. ... Rrogozhinë is an Albanian town in Kavajë District, Kavajë. His population current is 28,758. ... Elbasan (Albanian: Elbasan or Elbasani) is a city in central Albania. ... Hotel Enkelana (Photo by V. Kulla) Church (Photo by Bernard Cloutier) Pogradec (Albanian: Pogradec or Pogradeci) is one of the southeastern cities of Albania. ...

The railway system was extensively promoted by the totalitarian regime of Enver Hoxha, during which time the use of private transport was effectively prohibited. Since the collapse of the former regime, there has been a considerable increase in car ownership and bus usage. Whilst some of the country's roads are still in a very poor condition, there have been other developments (such as the construction of a motorway between Tirana and Durrës) which have taken much traffic away from the railways. The concept of Totalitarianism is a typology or ideal-type used by some political scientists to encapsulate the characteristics of a number of twentieth century regimes that mobilized entire populations in support of the state or an ideology. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A Go North East bus parked in a lay-by in Tyne and Wear, England. ... Motorway symbol in UK, France and Ireland. ...

The country's rail system is in need of considerable investment. Some trains and railway equipment were damaged during the 1997 unrest in Albania. Virtually all the carriages now used have been obtained secondhand from other European railways and some are in a dilapidated condition. Although the official maximum speed limit is 80 km/h, the April 2007 edition of the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable shows that a journey from Shkodër to Tirana (98 kilometres) takes 3½ hours. Combatants Albania Ad hoc local Albanian militias Commanders Sali Berisha Various independent militia leaders, Discontented Communist party members Casualties 2,000 deaths [1] The 1997 unrest in Albania or the Albanian Civil War was an uprising sparked by pyramid schemes failures. ... Thomas Cook Thomas Cook (22 November 1808 – 18 July 1892) of Melbourne, Derbyshire, founded the travel agency that bears his name. ...

Developments

• November 1947 - Opening of the first standard gauge railway line (Durrës to Peqin).
• June 1957 - Introduction of diesel-electric locomotives.
• July 1973 - Completion of the railway line from Elbasan to Prenjas, the first Albanian line through the mountains.
• September 1986 - First international rail freight (to and from Montenegro, then part of Yugoslavia).
• 2000 - HSH ceases to be a state enterprise, becoming a limited company (although state owned).
• 2005 - Other rail operaters allowed track access.

Source: HSH website This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

See also

• Transport in Albania

In the early 1990s, the rock-strewn roadways, unstable rail lines, and obsolete telephone network crisscrossing Albania represented the remnants of the marked improvements that were made after World War II. Enver Hoxhas xenophobia and lust for control had kept Albania isolated, however, as the communications revolution transformed the...

External link

• Official HSH website