Senegal: signing of the financing contract for the Dakar-Diamniadio TER

A section of railways under construction for the future regional express train in Dakar, February 2, 2018 .. Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP

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In Senegal, a new date for the launch of the rapid express train (TER) has been announced: early 2021. Funding of 17.6 billion CFA francs, or 26.9 million euros from the French public investment bank ( BPI) has just been signed on August 28. It will allow the launch of the pre-operation of the TER, which is to link Dakar to the new town of Diamniadio, located 36 kilometers from the capital. This project, emblematic of President Macky Sall's mandate, is however controversial.

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From our correspondent in Dakar, Théa Ollivier

The financing of the French Public Investment Bank could mark a final step towards the commissioning of the Dakar rapid express train, inaugurated in January 2019 by President Macky Sall.

The objective is to "  put in place the services necessary for proper operation of the TER  ", underlines the Senegalese Ministry of the Economy. Rail operations are about managing the traffic and schedules of trains, for example.

This preparation phase is therefore essential in order to confront the infrastructures with any anomalies and to guarantee proper functioning at the start of 2021.

The TER, presented as "the backbone of transport in the capital", has already fallen far behind. It was first announced for October 2019, then for November 30 of the same year. But it still does not roll.

This project is also controversial by its cost of one billion euros estimated exorbitant and not a priority by some. The displaced residents have demonstrated on several occasions to demand compensation from the Senegalese state.

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  • Senegal
  • Transport
  • Macky Sall

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