Transport in Senegal

{{Short description|none}}  [[File:Bus Dakar.jpg|thumb|Various buses in Dakar]] Senegal is a coastal country where maritime transport is possible. Also a developing country, its infrastructure is growing and is covered by air, rail road and water.

==Roads== {{further interlanguage link|List of roads in Senegal|fr|Liste des routes du Sénégal}} The system of roads in Senegal is extensive by West African standards, with paved roads reaching each corner of the country and all major towns.

===International highways=== Dakar is the endpoint of three routes in the Trans-African Highway network. These are as follows: *The Cairo–Dakar Highway, which crosses the edge of the Sahara. *The Trans-Sahelian Highway, which links the countries of the Sahel, also called the Trans-Sahelian Highway. *The Trans–West African Coastal Highway, running along the West African coast. Senegal's road network links closely with those of the Gambia, since the shortest route between south-western districts on the one hand and west-central and north-western districts on the other is through the Gambia.

===Motorways=== The country currently has two ''autoroutes'': {{Interlanguage link|Autoroute A1 (Senegal)|lt=Autoroute A1|fr|Autoroute A1 (Sénégal)}} and {{Interlanguage link|Autoroute A2 (Senegal)|lt=Autoroute A2|fr|Autoroute A2 (Sénégal)}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Alfers |first=Duncan |date=2023-09-27 |title=EAIF PROVIDES EUR 46 MILLION TO BRING STRATEGIC ROAD, A1 MOTORWAY, “AUTOROUTE DE L'AVENIR”, TO FINANCIAL CLOSE |url=https://www.eaif.com/eaif-provides-eur-46-million-to-bring-strategic-road-a1-motorway-autoroute-de-lavenir-to-financial-close/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Réalisation : L'Autoroute Ila Touba |url=https://www.sococim.com/lautoroute-ila-touba-0 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=www.sococim.com}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=AUTOROUTE DAKAR – SAINT LOUIS |url=https://pfoafrica.com/projets/autoroute-dakar-saint-louis/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=PFO Africa |language=fr-FR}}</ref> A third ''autoroute'', Autoroute A3, is currently being planned.<ref name=":2" />

Autoroute A1 runs from Dakar to M'Bour via Blaise Diagne International Airport.<ref name=":2" /> The A1 was built via a public-private partnership between French civil engineering firm Eiffage (which has a majority ownership in its toll road portion), and the Senegalese government.<ref name=":0" />

Autoroute A2 runs from Dakar to Touba, via Thiès.<ref name=":2" />

The planned Autoroute A3 will run from Dakar to Saint-Louis, and will span about {{Convert|200|km}} in length.<ref name=":2" />

===National roads=== The most important roads in Senegal are prefixed "N" and numbered from 1 to 7:

*N1: Dakar – Mbour - Fatick - Kaolack – Tambacounda – Kidira – (Mali) *N2: Pout – Thiès – Louga - St-Louis – Richard Toll – Ouro Sogui – Kidira - (Mali) *N3: Thiès – Diourbel – Touba – Linguère – Ouro Sogui *N4: Kaolack – (Trans-Gambia Highway) – Bignona – Ziguinchor – (Guinea-Bissau) *N5: Bignona – Diouloulou – (Gambia) - Sokone - Kaolack *N6: Tambacounda – Vélingara - Kolda – Ziguinchor – (Guinea-Bissau) *N7: Ouro Sogui - Tambacounda – Niokolo-Koba – Kédougou – Guinea

===Regional roads=== *R20, {{Interlanguage link|R21 road (Senegal)|lt=R21|fr|Route régionale 21 (Sénégal)}}, R22 *R30, R31, {{Interlanguage link|R32 road (Senegal)|lt=R32|fr|Route régionale 32 (Sénégal)}} *R60, R61 *R70

===Major incidents=== * Kaffrine bus crash (2023)

== Railways == {{main|Rail transport in Senegal}} {{Further|Railway stations in Senegal}} [[File:Train Express Régional de Dakar.jpg|thumb|A pair of Train Express Regional Dakar-AIBD trains]] According to the CIA World Factbook, Senegal had a total of {{Convert|906|km}} of railways as of 2017, of which {{Convert|713|km}} was operational, and all of which were {{RailGauge|1000mm}} gauge.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Senegal - The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/senegal/#transportation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109003221/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/senegal#transportation |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref> Since then, the first phase of the Train Express Regional Dakar-AIBD (TER Dakar) has begun operations in December 2021, adding {{Convert|36|km}} to Senegal's railway network.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2021-06-27 |title=Le réseau TER Dakar |url=https://www.terdakar.sn/le_reseau_ter_dakar/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=TER Dakar |language=fr}}</ref> There are plans to add another {{Convert|19|km}} to the TER Dakar, to connect it to Blaise Diagne International Airport.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Phase II |url=https://sentersa.sn/phase-2/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Senter |language=fr-FR}}</ref> Unlike the rest of Senegal's network, the TER Dakar uses standard gauge.

Other rail lines in Senegal include the partially-operational Dakar–Saint-Louis railway, which is used for freight, and the Dakar–Niger Railway. The Petit train de banlieue provided commuter rail service until 2016, and has since been replaced with the TER Dakar.

=== Maps === * [https://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/senegal.pdf UN Map] * [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/jacqver/texte/traindakarbamako.htm]

== Land transport == There were an estimated {{Convert|4,271|km}} of paved roads and {{Convert|10,305|km}} of unpaved roads as of 1996.

Dakar has a bus rapid transit (BRT) network: Sunu BRT, which currently has two routes in operation, with two more planned.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Sunu BRT - Le Bus Rapid Transit entre Dakar à Guédiawaye |url=https://www.sunubrt.sn/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Sunu BRT - Bus Rapid Transit Dakar |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

Taxis (black-yellow or blue-yellow in color) are cheap, numerous and available in all parts Dakar. It is customary to negotiate the fare since most meters installed in the taxis are broken or missing. For travel outside Dakar, public transportation is available but often unreliable and uncomfortable.<ref name="ccg" />

=== ''Car rapide'' === thumb|A ''car rapide'' The ''car rapide'' ({{Literal translation|fast car}} in French) was a common method of land transport in urban Senegal. Their use began in 1976 when Saviem Super Galions—manufactured by Renault—were shipped to Senegal. Painted blue and yellow, they were colorful and often included imagery and slogans of Sufism, and eyes on the front. They were often packed with riders and prone to crashing. In 2016, the Senegalese government announced their plan to fund larger buses in Dakar and abandon the ''car rapides''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=inbox |first=Get the stories shaping East Africa-delivered straight to your |date=2020-07-06 |title=End of the road for Dakar 'car rapides' |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/magazine/end-of-the-road-for-dakar-car-rapides--1336958 |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=The EastAfrican |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pisa |first=Katie |date=2016-06-30 |title=End of the road for Senegal's 'car rapides' |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/car-rapides-senegal |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Quist-Arcton |first=Ofeibea |date=2016-03-20 |title=If You Think This Bus Has An Eye On You, You're Right |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/03/20/470951358/if-you-think-this-bus-has-an-eye-on-you-youre-right |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref> A ''car rapide'' is exhibited at the Musée de l'Homme.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brice |first=Makini |date=2015-11-12 |title=Senegal's legendary 'car rapides' reaching the end of the line |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/senegals-legendary-car-rapides-reaching-the-end-of-the-line-idUSKCN0T129K/ |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Waterways == {{Convert|897|km}} total; {{Convert|785|km}} on the Senegal River, and {{Convert|112|km}} on the Saloum River.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

== Ports and harbours == thumb|A port in Dakar * Dakar - railhead * Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard Toll, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor

Dakar has one of the largest deep-water seaports along the West African coast.<ref name=ccg/> Its deep-draft structure and {{convert|640|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} access channel allows round-the-clock access to the port.<ref name=ccg/> Its current infrastructure includes tanker vessel loading and unloading terminals, a container terminal with a storage capacity of 3000 20-foot-equivalent units, a cereals and fishing port, a dedicated phosphate terminal and a privately run ship repair facility.<ref name=ccg/> The port's location at the extreme western point of Africa, at the crossroad of the major sea-lanes linking Europe to South America, makes it a natural port of call for shipping companies.<ref name=ccg/> Total freight traffic averages 10 million metric tons.<ref name=ccg/>

Additionally, shipments destined for Dakar must comply with Senegal’s Electronic cargo tracking note (ECTN) regime, commonly issued locally as a Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons (BSC or sometimes BESC).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senegal BSC|url=https://ctncertificate.com/how-to-get-senegal-bsc-a-complete-guide/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=ctncertificate.com}}</ref> it must be completed and validated in the country’s system and the certificate number shown on the Bill of lading before the vessel departs the Port of Loading.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuzay |first=Sergen |date=2025-11-14 |title=Senegal ECTN Regulation |url=https://scktr.com/en/senegal-ectn-regulation/ |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=SCKTR |language=en-US}}</ref> Failure to present a validated BSC/ECTN (or failure to have it referenced correctly on the master bill of lading) can lead to fines, clearance delays, or cargo being held at the Port of Dakar, so shippers and freight forwarders typically obtain the validated certificate well before shipment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Senegal – Cargo Tracking Note (BSC) Regulation |url=https://www.cma-cgm.com/static/eCommerce/Attachments/Senegal%20v1.pdf |publisher=CMA CGM |quote=The BSC requirement was introduced by Interministerial Decree No. 04350 of 26 May 2008 and applies to maritime shipments destined for Senegal. }}</ref> == Airports == [[File:Air Senegal International B737 6V-AHU.jpg|thumb|Air Sénégal International is Senegal's flag carrier.|400px]] {{See also|List of airports in Senegal}} Per the CIA World Factbook, Senegal has 20 airports as of 2025.<ref name=":3" /> Blaise Diagne International Airport in Diass became the hub of the sub-region.<ref name="ccg">{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=https://www.buyusa.gov/westafrica/en/senegal_ccg.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607104655/https://www.buyusa.gov/westafrica/en/senegal_ccg.pdf |archive-date=2010-06-07 |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=www.buyusa.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.aibd.sn/| title = Aéroport International Blaise Diagne}}</ref> Dakar is linked to numerous African cities by air, and daily flights go to Europe.<ref name=ccg/> Delta Air Lines flies daily to/from Atlanta/Dakar/Johannesburg.<ref name=ccg/> South African Airways flies daily to New York City and Washington, D.C. from Johannesburg via Dakar.<ref name=ccg/> The Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport in Dakar is now a cargo hub.

== See also == * Senegal

== References == {{Reflist}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20260118055435/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/senegal/ CIA Fact Book for SG]

== External links ==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transport In Senegal}} Category:Transport in Senegal