WBIF assisted the Albanian government in preparing the feasibility study to identify the essential works covering track, structure and signalling, required to improve the operational capability of the Albanian railway system and begin the process of fully complying with the European standards for railways.
The initial improvements were prioritised to provide the best opportunity for development, not only of the railway infrastructure but also to encourage use of the system for both freight and passengers and assist in the country’s economic development. The study established the condition of the existing infrastructure and identified a range of improvements. The study, based on cost-benefit appraisal technique, addressed the issue of incremental improvement on a section-by-section basis to provide flexibility for budgets and still provide the most appropriate improvements early in the project. It also included a preliminary assessment of the railway business based on transport scenarios and an assessment and understanding of the development trends in the Albanian economy. Cash flow analysis was conducted to assess the options and indicate which is the most advantageous to the economy. The socio-economic implications of the project were also assessed.