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- After five years and several false starts, the Dakar Regional Express Trains in Senegal were opened to passengers
- The inaugural trip was between Darkar and Diaminiado, a 35 kms stretch from the capital city
- Though it was boasted that traversing the distance between the two cities would take only 20 minutes, the inaugural ride took an hour and fifteen minutes
After five years and several false starts, the Dakar Regional Express Trains in Senegal were opened to passengers. The inaugural trip was between Darkar and Diaminiado, a 35 kms stretch from the capital city. Though it was boasted that traversing the distance between the two cities would take only only 20 minutes, the inaugural ride took an hour and fifteen minutes.
However, commuters are happy about the train services since it would lead to a reduction in traffic jams. Now, inhabitants of Dakar living in suburb areas go to the city centre for work or business can reach their destinations in record time with a level of safety. There are six trains, which will service between the two terminal stations in one hour connecting 13 stations in between. The trains will have a speed of 16 km/h. There are plans to extend the train services to more destinations. Work in this regard is in progress.
Commissioning of the state-owned railway line is a part of President Macky Sall’s plan to tone up the nation’s infrastructure by 2035. Over 115,000 passengers will be carried by six trains daily and will considerably reduce the vehicular congestion, which is very pronounced particularly in the capital city.
