• Senegal opens 24-km Touba-Mbacké-Ngabou railway line
• Line targets 5,000 daily passengers with affordable fares
• Part of broader rail strategy to boost mobility, economy
  

Senegal on Saturday, October 25, inaugurated the Touba-Mbacké-Ngabou railway line, a 24-km track that marks the gradual reintroduction of rail transport into the country’s national mobility strategy. The project cost 150 million CFA francs (about $266,000).

The new line includes two stations and eight stops, designed to improve transport links in a densely populated area. Officials expect the service to carry up to 5,000 passengers a day, with social fares starting at 150 CFA francs to make the train affordable for students and workers. The goal is to reduce road congestion while providing a safe, reliable, and sustainable transport option.

The initiative is part of the government’s nationwide rail modernization program, which also covers the Dakar-Kidira line and other regional corridors. Authorities say the broader plan aims to restore rail transport as a key component of the domestic transport system and a catalyst for logistics and economic growth.

Several rail projects were listed as priorities in the draft 2026 budget, presented on October 16. These include completing the second phase of the Regional Express Train (TER) and modernizing the Dakar-Bamako corridor, with the goal of cutting transit time by 30%. The government said these investments are intended to boost economic competitiveness, enhance regional connectivity, and promote sustainable growth through modern, integrated transport infrastructure.

Henoc Dossa