• The European Union has approved €6 million to support the next phase of Senegal’s regional express train expansion.

• The funding will help finance studies and preparatory work for extending the line to Thiès.

• Authorities see the TER as a key pillar of mass transit to ease congestion and reduce road accidents.

Senegal has secured €6 million (about $6.9 million) in additional funding from the European Union to support the third phase of its Regional Express Train (TER) expansion project, the country’s Transport Ministry said on March 4.

The financing was announced following an official visit by Josef Síkela, the European commissioner for international partnerships. The EU contribution adds to €4 million already committed by the French Development Agency (AFD). The funds will mainly support technical studies and preparatory work for the next stage of the railway project.

The planned expansion will extend the rail line to the city of Thiès, strengthening transport links between the capital, Dakar, and the country’s interior. The project forms part of the government’s broader strategy to position the TER as a central component of urban mass transit.

Officials say the expansion is also intended to reduce reliance on private transport operators, whose services have frequently been cited as a factor in recurring road accidents.

The first phase of the TER connected Dakar to Diamniadio, with an initial capacity of about 115,000 passengers per day. The second phase, currently under development, will link Dakar to Blaise Diagne International Airport and is expected to handle up to 300,000 passengers daily. The first phase has been operating since December 2021.

In nearly four years of service, the TER has become one of the main public transportation systems in Dakar and its surrounding areas. Daily ridership can reach around 80,000 passengers.

In 2024, the network carried nearly 23 million passengers, according to data from SETER, the company responsible for operating and maintaining the service.

Henoc Dossa