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Country information

Train operator:

Transrail (a Canadian consortium which has taken over the Senegalese & Malian railways).

Time:

GMT  all year.

Currency:

£1 = 950 Senegal CFA Francs (both Senegal & Mali).  Currency converter

Tourist information:

Tripadvisor Senegal page

Check travel advice at www.fco.gov.uk

Page last updated:

14 March 2008.

Current situation in 2008:

As at early 2008, the Dakar-Bamako train is running every 8 or 9 days, to no set schedule.  Dakar station can advise you of the next departure a few days beforehand, telephone 221 849 46 46.  It's also reported that the train is starting from the Gare de Hann, 3km out of Dakar, and not from Dakar station itself, so please double check locally. However, things are improving, slowly.  Back in 2003, it was reported that there were no trains at all operating between Dakar and Bamako due to the condition of the track.  Operation of the railway has been handed to a Canadian company which is working to improve things.  In 2005, a weekly express was reinstated from Dakar to Bamako and back, albeit reduced to running every 8-9 days in early 2007 due to yet more engineering work on the line. The timetable shown here is the last reported official timetable from March 2005, but only use it as a very rough guide as the train now just runs when it can, and not on any particular day of the week.  Note that it now takes an extra night compared with pre-2005..!  Please check the exact situation locally, and if you have any updates (or photos), please e-mail me. It was reported that second hand carriages from India and some new locomotives were due to be delivered in late 2006, and that the Indian government has approved a loan to buy 1 loco and 12 new coaches for the Dakar-Bamako train, due to enter service in late 2007.  If & when this happens, the service should then be much improved.

Dakar ► Bamako					Bamako ► Dakar
	Note C	Note D	See Note A			See Note B	Note E	Note F
Dakar *	-	-	10:00  Saturday		Bamako	09:15  Wednesday	09:15	19:30
Thies	-	-	12:15  Saturday		Kati	10:25  Wednesday	x	x
Diourbel	-	-	15:28  Saturday		Diamou	00:55  Thursday	x	x
Guinguineo	-	-	16:56  Saturday		Kayes	03:45  Thursday	00:30	11:35
Kaffrine	-	-	18:40  Saturday		Kidira (frontier)	08:25  Thursday	-	-
Tambacounda	-	-	03:25  Sunday		Tambacounda	13:00  Thursday	-	-
Kidira (frontier)	-	-	08:20  Sunday		Kaffrine	21:05  Thursday	-	-
Kayes	12:15	20:15	13:35  Sunday		Guinguineo	22:55  Thursday	-	-
Diamou	x	x	16:40  Sunday		Diourbel	00:12  Friday	-	-
Kati	x	x	07:12  Monday		Thies	03:35  Friday	-	-
Bamako	05:45	14:00	08:15  Monday		Dakar *	05:55  Friday	-	-

* It's reported in December 2007 that the Dakar-Bamako train is actually starting from the Gare de Hann, 3km from Dakar station, and not from Dakar station itself.  Please double-check locally.

Note A:  EXPRESS.  Runs every 8-9 days, not now on any specific day of the week.  Dakar station can tell you the next departure a few days beforehand.  The train has 1st class couchettes (4-berth compartments), 1st & 2nd class seats & bar-restaurant car.  Subject to alteration or cancellation at short notice, please ask when you're there..!

Note B:  EXPRESS.  Runs once a week, leaving Bamako every 8-9 days and not now on any specific day of the week.  1st class couchettes (4-berth compartments), 1st & 2nd class seats and bar-restaurant car.  Subject to alteration or cancellation at short notice, please ask when you're there..!

Note C:  Runs on Tuesdays & Saturdays only;

Note D:  Runs on Sundays only;

Note E:  Runs on Sundays only;

Note F:  Runs on Mondays and Fridays only;

x = train stops at this station, but please check times locally.

Dakar to Bamako is 1,230 km (768 miles).  There is currently no train service between Dakar and St Louis.

The Dakar-Bamako 'Express' (previously known as the 'Mali Express' or sometimes known locally as the 'Mistral International') has 1st & 2nd class seats plus 1st class couchettes with 4-bunk compartments.  It also has a bar-restaurant car selling drinks, snacks and inexpensive meals.

Previously, when the service was twice weekly, one set of Dakar-Bamako coaches was provided by the Mali Railways, the other by the Senegalese Railways, both originally bought second hand from French Railways.  The Senegalese train was considered to be the significantly better train, with stainless steel coaches that allegedly once operated the Paris-Nice 'Mistral'.

You will need to get your passport stamped at each border post.  It may be taken by an official on the train, but you have to collect it yourself by going to the police office at the border, although you may not be told this.  If your passport is taken, ask where and when you have to go to collect it.

Expect a final arrival at your destination anything from 4 to 12 hours late..!

Above:  Inside Dakar station... Photo courtesy of Hans Vulink.		Above:  Dakar-Bamako 1st class couchette car...  Photo courtesy of Hans Vulink.

Travellers' reports:

Travellers Bruno Lima and Bianca used this train in July 2007:

"The train left on Wednesday, July 11.  We walked up to the Dakar train station on Tuesday morning (July 10) and there was a hand-written note on the glass announcing the departure on Wednesday, July 11 at 13:00. It didn't seem like there was a set schedule at all.  We bought the tickets the day before at Dakar main station, and the station attendant told us it would depart from the Gare de Hann and the journey would take 36 hours. The train departed only 1 hour late, only to stop 500 meters later for about 3 hours. The total trip took 54 hours after numerous unexplained stops and break-downs.  The views were incredible, but the heat made the journey a bit uncomfortable when the sun was up high.  Only 2 of the 1st class cabins had lights, and a couple of the cabin doors were not working, so the doors were just propped against the frame.  Our cabin and berth numbers were written on the tickets, but once the trains pulls up at the station, the numbers don't mean anything as people just grabbed whatever berth they could.  So it's best to be early on the train to chose a cabin with a working door.  The "1st class" car and cabins are quite dirty, as is the rest of the train.  Vendors at the station sell cheap new mattresses for the couchettes, which are a good idea, since the foam padding and sheet provided seemed like they had never been washed.  Travellers should also buy drinking water in Dakar for the whole trip, as none was sold in the restaurant car.  Despite some of the discomfort brought by the heat, overall the trip was unforgettable, an incredible experience and a great way to see a bit of West Africa."

Traveller Hans Vulink reports on a trip on the Dakar-Bamako train in July 2004:

"We took the train from Dakar to Bamako on Saturday July 10th.  It was scheduled to leave at 13:00 but actually left at 16:00, and took 44 hours.  It stopped a lot but not but not because the train or the track was broken.  You can get the tickets the day before.  The ticket window opens at 9 in the morning - we were there at 10 and there was a very long queue.  The trick is let your wife get the tickets, as women have a separate queue which is much shorter.  It still took us 2 hours to get the tickets.  My wife bought tickets for 4 people so we ended up with only 4 people in one wagon-lits compartment.  The Africans invite a lot of friends in their compartments so it can get very crowded..! The train is old, dirty, there is no water in the toilets but the restaurant serves three decent meals a day and cold beer..!  And the atmosphere is great, the Africans were very nice.  And with the wagon-lits is comfortable, except when you have to close the windows because of the rain when the upper berths get very hot.  The border crossing was easy.  You give them your passport and some time later they call your name and you get it back.  After the border the locomotive is changed to a Mali one.  The price for the 1st class ticket was 34250 CFA and for the bed 17140 CFA."

Children under 3 travel free, 3-9 pay half fare, 10 and over pay adult fares.

One-way fare:	1st class couchette	1st class seat	2nd class seat
Dakar to Bamako:	52,000 CFA (GBP58 / US$ 81)	35,250 CFA (GBP36 / USD51)	25,500 CFA (GBP27 / USD38)
Dakar to Kayes:	33,000 CFA (GBP58 / US$ 55)	?	?
Source: www.promali.org/rcfm/voyageurs.htm

Bamako - Kayes

Bamako to Kayes costs about 16,000 CFA (GBP17 / USD24) 1st class on the international 'Mali Express'. 

...when in Senegal / Mali

Book at the reservation office at Dakar or Bamako stations.  Tickets go on sale the day before departure.  You can also try to get tickets from touts on the day of departure, although a 50% premium may be charged..!

If making a booking in Kaye, you might try finding a way onto the platform and going to see the Station Master.  It is reported that he may be able to issue tickets in his office, possibly saving you hours..!

...from outside Senegal / Mali

For departures from Dakar, try e-mailing some local travel agencies.  Africa Connection tours (www.au-senegal.com/pages/act.html) was recommended by one 'seat61' correspondent as 'fantastic' for booking the Dakar-Bamako train over the internet, and other possible agencies include www.au-senegal.com/pages/wahab.html or www.au-senegal.com/pages/farafina.html.  However, recent reports (December 2006) suggest that none of these agencies will now arrange tickets for this train.  If you want to book in advance from outside Mali/Senegal, for departures from the Bamako end you could try e-mailing the Chemin de Fer du Mali at rcfm@cefib.com.  Further feedback on agencies prepared to book this train is always welcome..!

Train, bus and ferry times for every country in Africa, Asia, America and Australasia are shown in the famous Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable, published every two months.  It's essential for every serious overland traveller, and an inspiration for armchair travellers..!

It costs £13.50 from the bureau de change section of any branch of Thomas Cook, or you can order online at www.thomascooktimetables.com.

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