The single standard gauge line is a commuter railway in Dakar, the Train Express Regional Dakar-AIBD, whose first phase opened in 2021.

Senegal was formerly part of the federation of French West Africa so the history of its railways is closely linked to that of its neighbours.

It is now mostly out of service, although some trains operate on parts of the line conveying phosphates and other minerals from mines in the Louga region to Dakar.

[2] An extract from the June 1981 news release provides detail of the project: "The $23.4 million project includes the upgrading and renewal of about six kilometers of siding track of the Regie des Chemins de Fer du Senegal (RCFS), which serve the ICS fertilizer plant at Mbao, about 15 kilometers from Dakar; the construction of terminal track works at Mbao, Darou Khoudoss, and the Port of Dakar; and the purchase of three mainline locomotives, three shunting locomotives, about 50 tank wagons, and about 30 hopper wagons, as well as spare parts for this equipment.

The project also provides for the construction and equipping of a workshop for locomotive and wagon maintenance at Darou Khoudoss, near ICS's Taiba phosphate mine."

in June 2023, as part of President Macky Sall's project to rebuild Senegal's rail capacity, a test run was conducted between Thies and Diourbel, with a full opening planned for December 2023 or January 2024.

[16] A 750 kilometres (470 mi) rail line was planned to Faleme River region of South East Senegal for iron ore traffic.