Senegal: Phase 2 of the Dakar Regional Express Train (TER) in service for 2025
A prolonged delay for phase 2 of the Dakar TER
Initially scheduled for the end of 2023, the commissioning of phase 2 of the Dakar Regional Express Train (TER) will ultimately have to wait until the second half of 2025. The Senegalese Agency for the Promotion of Investment and Major Works (APIX) confirmed this new deadline upon receipt of the first batch of trains intended for this 19 km section. This project, which began in March 2022, should have been completed after 17 months, but delays have extended its schedule by two years.
A major project to ease congestion in the capital
This second phase of the TER, which will connect Blaise Diagne International Airport to cities such as Thiès and Mbour, will extend the network to 55 km. It is designed to carry around 300,000 passengers per day, helping to reduce traffic congestion in Dakar, a capital that is home to nearly 20% of Senegal’s 18 million inhabitants, according to 2023 census data.
The TER, an already popular mobility solution
Despite delays in expanding the network, the Dakar TER has been a notable success. In 2023, more than 41 million people used this means of transport, according to statistics from the Société nationale de gestion du patrimoine du Train express régional (SEN-TER SA). This network is part of a comprehensive urban mobility strategy alongside the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service and the Dakar Dem Dikk bus lines. These initiatives aim to smooth traffic flow in Dakar and encourage the use of public transport to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road.
Conclusion: an expected advance for urban mobility
Phase 2 of the TER, although delayed, remains a crucial project for the development of transport infrastructure in Senegal. Once operational, it is expected to significantly ease pressure on Dakar’s road network while providing a fast and efficient alternative to hundreds of thousands of daily passengers. Combined with other public transport services, it plays a central role in the modernization of Senegalese urban mobility.
