Transport in Senegal

Railways

"total:" 906 km
"narrow gauge:" 906 km 1.000-meter gauge (70 km double track). See Dakar-Niger Railway.

* Brakes: Air brakes. [ [http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11335273.htm Indian MG coaches for Senegal/Mali - Railpage Australia™ Forums (Africa) ] ]
* Couplings
** Twin buffer, hook and chain as per Europe for original stock
** Chopper for 2008 Stock from India with transition wagon [ [http://www.steam.dial.pipex.com/africa.htm Steam in Africa 2008 ] ]

Railway links to adjacent countries

* Mauritania - no - break of gauge - 1000 mm/1435 mm gauge
* Mali - yes - 1000 mm gauge
* Guinea - no - 1000 mm and 1435 mm gauges
* Guinea-Bissau - no railways to link to
* The Gambia - no railways to link to

Maps

* [http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/senegal.pdf UN Map]
* [http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/senegal.htm]

Links

* [http://railwaynews.blogspot.com/search/label/Senegal]

Towns served by rail

Existing

* Dakar - port and national capital
* Rufisque
* Thiès - junction for St-Louis and Linguere

* Bambey
* Diourbel - junction for Touba, Mbaké
* Gossas
* Guinguinéo - junction for Kaolack and Lydiane
** Kaolack - provincial capital
** Lydiane - branch terminus
* Kaffrine
* Niahène
* Koungheul
* Koumpentoum
* Koussanar
* Tambacounda - provincial capital and proposed junction
* Bala
* Goudiri
* Kidira - border with Mali
* Nayé - border with Mali
* Kayes , Mali
* Bamako , Mali - capital

* Tivouane
* Louga - junction
* Mpal
* St-Louis

* Thiès - junction for St-Louis
** Louga - junction
** Koki
** Daraa
** Linguere - railhead

Proposed

* Ziguinchor [ [http://www.senegalembassy.co.uk/opportunities.html Opportunities ] ]

* Tambacounda - provincial capital and proposed junction
* Kédougou - proposed branch terminus [ Janes World Railways 2002-2003 p317 ]

Closed

Timeline

2007

* October - order for 70 air braked coaches from [http://www.rcfkapurthala.com/html/news.asp?ID=121 Rail Coach Factory in India]

* Proposed 750km rail line to Faleme River region of South East Senegal for iron ore traffic. [http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/arcelor-mittal-develop-senegal-iron-ore/story.aspx?guid=%7B7172B729-912F-4D01-990B-16E9D0597A20%7D]

2006

* August 2006 - RITES of India to supply 5 metre-gauge locomotives, with vacuum brakes converted to air brakes.

2000

* proposed gauge conversion from 1000 mm to 1435 mm [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQQ/is_12_40/ai_68704745 Senegal Railways | International Railway Journal | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQQ/is_12_40/ai_68704745 Senegal Railways | International Railway Journal | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] [ [http://www.apix.sn/project.htm Les Grands Projets ] ]

Ground transport

There were an estimated 4,271 km of paved roads and 10,305 km of unpaved roads as of 1996.

Taxis (black-yellow in color) are cheap, numerous and available everywhere in 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.

Waterways

897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on the Saloum River.

Ports and harbours

* Dakar - railhead

* Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard Toll, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor

Dakar has one of the largest deep-water seaports along the West African coast. Its deep-draft structure and 640 foot-wide access channel allows round-the-clock access to the port. 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. 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. Total freight traffic averages 10 million metric tons.

Airports

There were an estimated 20 airports in 1999.

The Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport is the hub of the sub-region. [http://www.buyusa.gov/westafrica/en/senegal_ccg.pdf Senegal Country Commercial Guide 2008] . U.S. Commercial Service (2008). PD-notice] Dakar is linked to numerous African cities by air, and daily flights go to Europe. Delta flies daily to/from Atlanta/Dakar/Johannesburg. SAA flies daily to New York and Washington, D.C. from Johannesburg via Dakar.

Airports - with paved runways

"total:"10
"over 3,047 m:"1
"1,524 to 2,437 m:"7
"914 to 1,523 m:"2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

"total:"10
"1,524 to 2,437 m:"5
"914 to 1,523 m:"4
"under 914 m:"1 (1999 est.)

See also

* Roads in Senegal
* Senegal
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sg.html CIA Fact Book for SG]

References