Public transport
Timeline
16 Feb, 1880
Rickshaws, handdrawn-taxi-cabs, introduced in Singapore. Mainly double seaters.
trishaws and rickshaws
1919
Iron-wheeled doubleseater rickshaws were no longer found in Singapore
Late 1920s
Trishaws returned to Singapore. Grew in popularity.
1949
Rickshaws banned. Trishaws replaced rickshaws
1904
First-class singleseaters rickshaws were introduced.
1914
Trishaws were introduced in Singapore. Bicycles added to the passenger seat of rickshaws. Soon forgotten.
1939
1950 onwards
Number of trishaws and rickshaws decreased. Grew less important over time.
Rear reflectors made mandatory
Rickshaws were a major form of public transport in Singapore from 1880s to 1930s. Both rickshaws and trishaws provided a source of income for many Chinese immigrants. Though rickshaws can no longer be found in present day Singapore, trishaws can still be found in Chinatown today. However, it is now more of a tourist attraction than a form of public transport.
Public transport Trams and buses
Timeline
1901
Singapore Tramways, Limited, was registered in London. Started laying down tramways, involved recreating and extending roads ran by steam trams.
1902
Singapore Tramway taken over by Singapore Electric Tramways, Limited.
March,1905 1926
Company wound up, became Singapore Traction Company, Limited. Paved way for trolley buses.
1927
Last changeover from trams to trolley buses
1927-1950s
Singapore Traction company monopolise, no direct competition. Substandard services.
1970s
Government stepped in to reorganize bus system. Small bus companies merged into 3 larger bus companies.
Rails laid out. 14 steam trams ordered in 1885, two ordered in 1887. High fares did not attract people to travel on steam trams. Steam trams closed on 1 June, 1894.
Month
Before 1900
Built a power station in Electric Tramways Mackenzie road to opened to public. generate current for trams. Bought 50 single deck passenger cars for operations.
Bus
1905
July, 1905
1973
3 main bus companies merged into Singapore Bus Services.
1982
Average Daily Ridership 2006
2,007,999
2,137,650 2,127,916 2,069,001 2,103,032 2,010,668 2,148,923 2,180,403 2,129,539
Trans-island Bus Services Limited formed to provide competition. Singapore Bus Services renamed SBS Transit Ltd.
2007
2,173,566
2,122,479 2,203,734 2,166,160 2,195,969 2,108,729 2,255,483 2,258,669 2,200,560
2008
2,362,437
2,250,694 2,256,413 2,347,572 2,291,485 2,220,257 2,411,559 2,364,876 2,346,677
2009
2,254,647
2,364,247 2,240,355 2,297,462 2,264,029 2,154,231 2,339,235 2,290,542 2,284,765
2010
2,329,019
2001
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Today
SBS Transit has more than 250 bus services and 3000 buses serving 16 interchanges and more than 3500 bus stops.
Oct
Nov Dec
2,090,499
2,106,293 1,981,755
2,232,649
2,166,538 2,079,228
2,322,492
2,257,549 2,143,491
2,320,247
2,245,616 2,171,797
Monthly bus Ridership on SBS Transit from 2006 to 2010. Taken from SBS Transit website. On average, the average daily ridership for public buses all around Singapore is 3.085 million.
Public Transport MRT and LRT
Timeline
Before 1980
No MRT or LRT
1981
A comprehensive Traffic Study was conducted to check the feasibility.
Oct, 1983
MRT Cooperation was established. Took over roles and responsibilities of Provisional Mass Rapid Transit Authority.
March, 1988
MM Lee Kuan Yew officiated the launching of the system.
1996
Completion of extension of MRT system to Woodlands.
83 train trips added per week to the North-South Line, EastWest Line and 10 to the NorthEast Line during the morning and evening peak periods.
2008
A Provisional Mass Rapid Transit Authority was established
1980
1982
Government gave a goahead. Work on the construction of MRT began.
7 Nov, 1987
First section from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh was opened.
July, 1990
Remainder of system opened and completed.
LRT started operations. Total of three lines and 33 stations.
1999
2009 onwards
Building of Circle Line.
The MRT-Mass Rapid Transit system comprises of mainly 4 lines, the North-South line(red), East-West line(green), North-South line(purple) and the Circle line, which is under completion. It consists of both stations that are above ground and underground. The MRT has an average daily ridership of 1.952 in 2009. The LRT Light Rail Transit in Singapore consists of three lines, one in Sengkang, one in Punggol and the last one in Bukit Panjang. Both the MRT and LRT were set up to provide fast and quick transport for the public.
Public Transport - Taxis
Late 1940s
Comfort First motorised (ComfortDelGro taxis appeared Corporation) in Singapore established, fleet of 1,000 taxis.
1970
1970s
New licences only issued to taxi companies.
1995
CityCab established.
2007
Today
There are a total fleet of around 25,000 taxis in Singapore that are operated by 8 taxi companies and individuals. Comfort is the largest operator with more than 10,000 taxis.
15 new taxi stands installed in central business district. Bringing the total number of taxi stands there to 95. Launch first batch of Hybrid taxis that run on both petrol and electric power or natural gas. 30 environmentally friendly cabs.
1953
Non-transferable taxi SMRT Taxis First taxi meters licences were issued to established installed. individuals.
Holding company Taxi company Brand Dominant colour Fleet Incorporated
Late 1960s
1989
Allow operators to set fare rates according to market conditions. Standard flagdown rate.
1998
2008
ComfortDelG ro Corporation, CityCab Singapore Technologies Kinetics
CityCab
Yellow
3823
1995
Total number of taxis, 24,693^
ComfortDelG Comfort ro Transportatio Comfort Corporation n Premier Rent Premier Taxis Silvercab A Car SMART Automobile Pte Ltd. SMART
Blue
11404
1970
Silver
2056
2004
SMART Cabs Green
724
2004
SMRT Corporation Union Energy
SMRT Taxis Transcab Services
SMRT Taxis
White Red and white Copper
2579
1989
TransCab
3139
2004
Prime Car Rental & Taxi Prime Taxis Services
Prime
562
2007