Trains

The nearest place with rails is Pogradec, from where Albanian Railways (Hekurudha Shqiptare, HSH) runs one daily, basic and extremely slow diesel-hauled train to Tirana. Pogradec train station (stacion i trenit) is a few kilometres north of town along the lakeside, and tickets for the train are available just before departure.

It's much faster to take a bus, but if you have the time, the stretch to Elbasan is a marvellous train ride, as you first trundle along the lakeshore and then wind down a lush valley towards Elbasan, sometimes perched high on rusty viaducts. Avoid the flat tedious bits of rail beyond Elbasan by taking a bus to Tirana or elsewhere.

Pogradec train schedule
Pogradec - Elbasan 12:50-16:00
Pogradec - Tirana 12:50-20:00
Tirana - Pogradec 05:00-12:30
Elbasan - Pogradec 09:30-12:23