Since 2021, the TER (regional express train) has ended at Diamniadio. The airport is another twenty kilometers further on. The result: West Africa's most modern train drops you halfway to where you were going.
That is set to change this month. The extension to Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) is announced for September 2026, ahead of the Youth Olympic Games. Here is what it will really change for your arrival in Senegal — and the three things it won't change.
What has been announced
| Today | After the extension | |
|---|---|---|
| Terminus | Diamniadio | AIBD, station connected to the terminal |
| Distance from Dakar | 36 km | 57 km |
| Travel time | ≈ 30 min | ≈ 45 min city center → airport |
| Announced fare | 1,500 FCFA (2nd class) | 4,000 FCFA to AIBD |
| Frequency | one train every 10 min | every 8 min, one train in three goes to the airport |
| Stations | 13 | 15, with Sébikotane under construction |
The section runs 19 kilometers between Diamniadio and the airport, for an investment of around 204 to 208 billion FCFA — about 310 million euros. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced service start for September on June 20, 2026, at the launch of construction work on Sébikotane station. The transport minister reconfirmed it on August 14, following a meeting between SENTER and AIBD.
The final integration tests took place in late July: SENTER and SETER had announced, in a joint statement, service interruptions between Rufisque and Diamniadio on July 27 and 28, then between Yeumbeul and Diamniadio from July 29 to August 1. These tests are the regulatory step before final acceptance.
What it changes in practice
The airport trip becomes predictable. That is the real gain, and it matters more than the time saved. Today, getting to AIBD from Dakar means a taxi ride whose length depends entirely on the time of day: the toll highway flows well at night, much less so at 6 p.m. A train on a fixed timetable removes that uncertainty — and when you have a flight to catch, uncertainty costs more than minutes.
The price becomes a price, not a negotiation. 4,000 FCFA posted, no haggling, no improvised luggage surcharge, no "it's nighttime, boss." For a couple or a solo traveler, the difference from a private ride is clear. For a family of four with suitcases, the math gets closer.
And Diamniadio gets closer to both ends. That is no small detail during the Games: Dakar Arena and the Dakar Expo Center are in Diamniadio, not Dakar, and many people will only find that out when they look at their ticket.
The three things it doesn't change
1. Only one train in three goes all the way to the airport
This is the most important point and the one least reported. The high frequency announced — a departure every eight minutes — applies to Dakar–Diamniadio. On the airport branch, it is one train in three, meaning an interval of roughly twenty-five minutes.
Twenty-five minutes is nothing when you are heading home. It is a lot when you have a check-in you can't miss: it means allowing one train's margin, so leaving half an hour earlier than the theoretical calculation. The actual time saved will be more modest than the 45 minutes advertised.
2. The TER doesn't run at night
On the current line, service runs from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., with trains every twenty minutes after 9 p.m. The timetable for the airport section has not been published.
If it keeps the same operating hours — the reasonable assumption — a good share of long-haul flights will fall outside service hours: at AIBD, many arrivals are in the evening and many departures in the middle of the night. Check the time on your ticket before counting on the train. If you land at 11:40 p.m., the TER is not an option, and you will need a taxi anyway.
This is the first question we will ask on opening day, and we will update this post with the answer.
3. You still have to get to Dakar station
The TER's Dakar terminus is Dakar station, in the Plateau. If you are staying in the Plateau or on the Corniche, it is a walk or a short ride. If you are staying in the Almadies, Ngor or Yoff — in other words, where many visitors stay — you first have to cross Dakar with your luggage to catch a train that takes you back southeast.
From those neighborhoods, a direct taxi will often remain the right choice. The TER is excellent from the Plateau and along the Rufisque – Diamniadio corridor; much less so from the northern tip of the peninsula.
What is not yet known
As of September 12, 2026:
- No specific opening date has been made public. "September," "before the Games": that is all that is official.
- The operator's website still only shows Dakar–Diamniadio, 13 stations, 36 km. Until the airport section timetable appears there, have a backup plan.
- The 4,000 FCFA fare comes from an official announcement in June, not a published fare table. It may change, and nothing has been said about a possible first class or a luggage fare.
We would rather say so than write "the TER opens on September 30" as if we knew. On an airport run, wrong information costs you a flight.
How to plan in the meantime
The rule until the opening is confirmed: plan your transfer as if the train didn't exist, and treat it as a bonus. In practice, ask your accommodation for an airport transfer when you book — most of the properties we list arrange one, and it is the simplest option for a first arrival at night with luggage.
Full details on transportation in Senegal, with real prices and how to negotiate a ride, are on our getting around Senegal page.
And if your trip falls this fall, be aware you are arriving at a busy time: the Youth Olympic Games from October 31 to November 13, then the Dak'Art Biennale from November 19 to December 19. Our hotels in Dakar and apartments in Dakar can be booked online with 20% of the stay, the balance on arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Does the TER already go to Dakar airport?
Not yet as of September 12, 2026. The 19-kilometer extension between Diamniadio and AIBD is technically complete and passed its tests in late July, but no public opening date has been announced. The operator's website still only shows the Dakar–Diamniadio line.
How much will the TER to the airport cost?
4,000 FCFA from Dakar, according to the official announcement in June 2026, compared with 1,500 FCFA for Dakar–Diamniadio. This fare has not yet been confirmed in a published fare table.
How long does the Dakar–AIBD train ride take?
About 45 minutes for 57 kilometers, from central Dakar to the station connected to the terminal. Add the time to get to Dakar station from your accommodation, plus a margin: only one train in three continues to the airport.
Does the TER run at night for late flights?
On the current line, service ends around 10 p.m. The timetable for the airport section has not been published. If your flight arrives late in the evening or leaves in the middle of the night, plan a road transfer.
Should I take the TER or a taxi from my accommodation?
The TER makes sense if you are staying in the Plateau, on the Corniche or along the Rufisque – Diamniadio corridor. From the Almadies, Ngor or Yoff, you would have to cross Dakar with your luggage to reach the station: a direct taxi is often simpler.
Sources
- Le Soleil, June 20, 2026 — presidential announcement of service start in September: 19 km section, 4,000 FCFA fare to AIBD, frequency increased to 8 minutes, one train in three continuing to the airport, 15 stations in total.
- SenePlus, August 14, 2026 — confirmation of the September deadline following a meeting between SENTER SA and AIBD.
- SENTV, July 19, 2026 — joint SENTER / SETER statement: service interruptions on July 27–28 and from July 29 to August 1 for the final tests before acceptance.
- SENTER SA (sentersa.sn), Phase 2 page — 19 km, 57 km in total, about 45 minutes Dakar–AIBD, cost of 204 to 208 billion FCFA, additional trainsets.
- Au Sénégal, April 14, 2026 — electrification and connection of the line completed, schedule subject to safety certifications.
- terdakar.sn, operator's website — current status of the line checked on September 12, 2026: 13 stations, 36 km, Dakar–Diamniadio, service from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., 1,500 FCFA in 2nd class.
Post published on September 12, 2026. It will be updated when the line actually opens: date, airport section timetable, confirmed fare and actual frequency.