Why it Matters
The extension of the Train Express Régional to Blaise Diagne International Airport strengthens the role of rail in Senegal’s wider mobility strategy, linking Dakar, Diamniadio, emerging urban centres and the airport through a higher-capacity public transport corridor. The launch of Sébikotane station also reflects growing attention to intermediate communities along the route, not only airport access.
Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has travelled on the new Diamniadio–Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) section of the Train Express Régional (TER), as the country moves closer to commissioning the second phase of the Dakar regional express rail system.
The visit took place on Saturday, 20 June 2026, and included a test journey on the new section between Diamniadio and AIBD. The extension is expected to improve connectivity between Dakar, Diamniadio, emerging urban centres and the international airport.
As part of the programme, the President also launched construction work on the new TER station at Sébikotane. The station has been introduced in response to local demand and is intended to support daily mobility in a growing commune that sits along the strategic Dakar-AIBD axis.
Designed as a multimodal transport hub, Sébikotane station will connect rail services with buses and taxis. According to the Senegalese authorities, the station is intended to improve access, ease local movement and support the integration of Sébikotane into the wider TER network.
The development forms part of Senegal’s broader infrastructure and economic transformation agenda, which links transport investment with industrial development, job creation and regional inclusion. On the same day, the President also inaugurated the AVCI Global Industrie textile facility in Diamniadio, underlining the government’s emphasis on domestic production and value addition.
The TER extension to AIBD represents a significant next step in the scaling of Senegal’s urban and regional rail network. Once commissioned, the line is expected to strengthen airport rail access, support mobility between Dakar and new development zones, and contribute to the wider restructuring of transport along one of Senegal’s most important growth corridors.
