Regional Express Train (TER) Phase II

Project Type
Commuter Rail
Country

Senegal

Length

19 km

Stations

Category

New Line

Traction

25kV AC 50Hz

Capacity

Project Start

2016

Stage

Under construction

Cost

US $1.14 B (Ph 1&2)

Financing

Govt; Loans

Contract Type

Project Owner

APIX on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Land Transport and a Better-Connected Nation.

APIX is Senegal’s National Agency for Investment Promotion and Major Projects. It operates under the Ministry of Infrastructure, Land Transport and a Better-Connected Nation.

Background

The Dakar Regional Express Train project, also known as Train Express Régional (TER), is a railway line that will connect Dakar with Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD). Once complete, the rail project will have a double-track standard gauge line for passenger trains and a single-track metre gauge freight line.

Phase II involves the construction of a new line between Diamniadio station and the AIBD (19 km). Phase I which involved the upgrading of the existing infrastructure between Dakar and Diamniadio stations (36 km) was inaugurated in December 2019. Once complete, the Dakar TER will have a total length of 55 km.

The project is part of Senegal’s social and economic development plan dubbed Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE) and it aims to provide services for the Dakar suburbs by replacing the existing Petit Train de Banlieue (PTB), and connect Dakar with Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD).

The project also involves the construction of 14 stations, one infrastructure maintenance site in Rufisque and a train maintenance site in Colobane.

In terms of rolling stock, Dakar Regional Express Train will operate 15 Alstom Coradia Polyvalent trains. The four-car train can carry up to 531 passengers and runs at a maximum speed of 160 km/h. The Coradia Polyvalent for Senegal is a regional dual-mode train operating on both diesel and electric (25kV) power supply. The trains will be equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 and Global System for Mobile Communication-Railways (GSM-R).

Financing of Dakar Regional Express Train
  • African Development Bank: $192.8 million loan.
  • Islamic Development Bank: $337 million loan.
  • French Development Agency: $110.5 million.
  • French Treasury: $105 million. 
  • The government of Senegal.

Contractors

Main Contractor

ENGIE Ineo and Thales (subcontractor): Design-Build contract covering traction power supply, signalling, telecommunications and train control.

Consortium of Eiffage, Yapi Merkezi and Compagnie Sahélienne d’Entreprise (CSE): Civil works of the Dakar TER.

Alstom: Supply of rolling stock.

Sub-Contractors

Terrasol: Contracted by Eiffage to carry out geotechnical analysis of the foundations of the structures (road bridges, railway bridges and footbridges) along the rail line.

Setec: Contracted by Eiffage to design the infrastructure and track in the Eiffage/Yapi Merkezi/CSE consortium and in the entire railway system (electrification, signalling and telecoms) in the ENGIE Ineo/Thales consortium. Setec is also in charge of scheduling, construction management and coordination.

Ride on Track: Contracted by ENGIE Ineo to provide a fixed operational communication system.

Recent Developments

The African Development Bank approved a loan of 120 billion CFA francs ($192.8 million) to support the development of the Dakar TER aimed to revolutionize the urban mobility in Dakar.

Milestones

President Macky Sall inaugurated the first section of the Regional Express Train. The section connects Dakar with Diamniadio and operates 15 Alstom Coradia Polyvalent trains carrying 115000 passengers per day.

Senegal’s Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning signed two agreements worth a total of CFA 129.68 billion ($215.5 million). Under the agreements, the French Development Agency will contribute CFA 66.5 billion ($110.5 m), while the French Treasury will contribute CFA 63.18 billion ($105 m).
This financing package will be used to purchase rolling stock and upgrade the existing metre gauge freight line.

APIX awarded Alstom a contract to supply 15 Coradia Polyvalent trains for the Dakar TER. The four-car trains have a capacity of 531 passengers and are capable of running at a maximum speed of 160 km/h.

Senegal’s president Macky Sall presided over the ceremony to mark the official start of works on December 14.

Acting on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Land Transport and a Better-Connected Nation, APIX awarded a €225 million contract to ENGIE Ineo and Thales to design and build infrastructure and systems for the Dakar  Regional Express Train project.

Another €373.5 million contract was awarded to a consortium of Eiffage, Yapi Merkezi and Compagnie Sahélienne d’Entreprise to carry out the civil works of the Dakar TER.

The Government of Senegal through APIX issued an invitation to pre-qualify for contracts to build a 55km commuter rail link between Dakar city center and the Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD).

The open tender will be conducted in two stages and is divided into three lots: design and construction of the rail infrastructure, design and installation of the railway systems (signalling, power supply telecommunications, information and ticketing), and renewal of the metre gauge freight line.

Scroll to Top