On 11 October, the first trainset of Phase II of the Regional Express Train (TER) project was unloaded at the port of Dakar after sailing from the port of Antwerp aboard Grimaldi’s vessel Grande Congo.
This marked a pivotal step forward in the plan to connect the capital of Senegal to Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) and strengthen transport infrastructure across the region.
Having managed the first phase of the TER project, the Grimaldi Group is continuing to act as a logistics partner in transporting the trains also for Phase II, comprising an order for seven new four-car trainsets (totalling 28 carriages and locomotives) manufactured at Alstom’s plant in Reichshoffen, France. Each car is 2.9 metres wide, 4.3 metres high and 15.4 or 20.5 metres long.
Following the first consignment, two more trainsets were delivered in Dakar in late October and early November. The Grimaldi Group will carry out shipments for the remaining trains by March 2025.
The TER project has made significant strides since its inception. Phase I saw the successful introduction of fifteen trains providing a reliable and frequent connection every 10 minutes between Dakar and Diamniadio. Since the TER launch in December 2021, more than 60 million passengers have used the service, underscoring its role in Senegal’s daily commuting network.
The second phase of the project is scheduled to become fully operational in the second half of 2025, providing an essential direct link from Dakar’s city centre to AIBD airport.
(Grimaldi)
