Phase 3 du TER : Yankhoba Diémé veut donner une « vocation régionale » au Train Express
Senegal and the European Union are stepping up their rail cooperation. During an official visit to the SETER headquarters in Dakar, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships in charge of Cooperation, Jozef Síkela, announced financial support for phase 3 of the Regional Express Train (TER) project.
Alongside the Minister of Land and Air Transport, Yankhoba Diémé, he visited the TER facilities, presented as a strategic lever for modernizing transport in Senegal.
Enhanced cooperation
Speaking to the press, Jozef Síkela praised the strength of relations between the European Union and Senegal.
“Senegal and the European Union share values such as democracy and the rule of law. We have decided to move towards a higher level of enhanced cooperation,” he declared. The objective, according to him, is clear: “to grow the country, create new jobs, and invest in sustainable growth.”
He emphasized that this momentum is part of the Global Gateway program, designed to support structuring investments, particularly in transport infrastructure. For the European Commissioner, the TER (Regional Express Train) is "a perfect example" of successful cooperation. The Dakar–Diamniadio line carries approximately 80,000 passengers per day. With its extension to the Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD), it now connects major urban centers.
10 million euros to prepare for phase 3
The main announcement of the visit concerns phase 3 of the project. The European Union is allocating €6 million to finance the feasibility studies. With the addition of other contributions, notably those already committed by partners such as the AFD (French Development Agency), the total amount to launch this new phase is approaching €10 million.
"To give the TER its regional purpose"
Minister Yankhoba Diémé hailed this as "good news" for Senegal: the extension of the TER (Regional Express Train) to phase 3 for the region, given that phase 1 covers Dakar-Diamniadio and phase 2 covers Dakar-AIBD (Blaise Diagne International Airport).
“Since the President of the Republic announced the Phase 3 extension of the TER (Regional Express Train), interest has been growing,” he stated. He noted that over 1.2 trillion CFA francs have already been invested in the project. “What’s done is done. When you can’t change what’s been done, you have to change what needs to be changed,” he affirmed.
For the minister, the challenge now is to extend the TER (Regional Express Train) to give it a "regional focus." Prospects for extension to Mbour and other localities are being discussed. He also emphasized the need to optimize operating and maintenance costs to guarantee the project's performance and sustainability.
Beyond infrastructure, the two officials emphasized the socio-economic impact. Phase 3 is expected to generate local job opportunities and strengthen the connection between regions, talent, and the labor market.
Through this financial commitment, the European Union confirms its willingness to support Senegal in its major infrastructure projects. The TER (Regional Express Train) thus stands as a symbol of cooperation geared towards modern mobility, economic performance, and sustainable employment.
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