Public Transportation in Singapore

Travel through the history of Singapore’s public transportation, exploring the myriad of forms that have served as the lifeblood of the nation’s commuting populace from past to present.

Rickshaws

Rickshaws are hand-drawn taxi-cabs used in colonial Singapore. Originating from Japan, rickshaws were first brought to Singapore in 1880, becoming a major form of public transport. Rickshaw-pulling was a primary source of income for thousands of Chinese immigrants. Read more about it here.

Bullock carts

Bullock carts were one of the earliest and most popular modes of transport in 19th- and early-20th-century Singapore. They served a variety of purposes such as travelling and transportation of goods. From 1867 onwards, such carts were slowly phased out with rising levels of traffic and the advent of mechanised transport. Read more about it here.

Electric trams

The first electric trams in Singapore began operations on 24 July 1905. The enactment of The Tramways Ordinance in 1902 by the Municipal Authorities in Singapore allowed the London-registered company, Singapore Tramways, Limited, to set up a tramway system as well as future transport services. On 29 March 1905, Singapore Electric Tramways, Limited, took over the management of tram development from Singapore Tramways, Limited. Read more about it here.

Mosquito buses

The so-called “mosquito bus” is a small, seven-seater motor bus commonly seen on Singapore roads in the 1920s and 1930s. Following a raft of regulations implemented in the 1930s, mosquito buses were gradually phased out. Read more about it here.

Trishaws

A trishaw (also known as a cycle-rickshaw or pedicab) is a bicycle with a sidecar, powered entirely by the cyclist. The trishaw was a popular mode of public transportation in the immediate years following the end of the Japanese Occupation (1942 to 1945) in Singapore but started to suffer a decline in popularity from the mid-1950s onwards. By the late 1970s, trishaw riders were regarded as a dying breed with most of them primarily involved in the tourism trade. Read more about it here.

Mass Rapid Transit system

The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system is a rail network that is the backbone of Singapore’s public transport system. It began operations on 7 November 1987 when the six-kilometre Yio Chu Kang-to-Toa Payoh stretch of the North-South Line was opened to commuters. Officially launched in 1988, the MRT system currently comprises six lines: North-South, East-West, North-east, Circle, Downtown and Thomson-East Coast as of 2023. Read more about it here and here.

Light Rail Transit system

The Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system was initially developed as part of the government’s plan to provide an alternative feeder service for the public and bring greater convenience to commuters. As of 2023, there are three LRT systems operating in Bukit Panjang, Sengkang and Punggol. The Bukit Panjang LRT, launched in 1999, was the first such transit system in Singapore. Read more about it here.

Look into key public transportation milestones that elevated Singapore's public transport system as well as the organisations responsible for them.

Jinrikisha Station

The Jinrikisha Station served as the main station for rickshaw services and the registration of rickshaws, which were once ubiquitous on Singapore’s streets. Read more about it here.

Railway in Singapore

The Singapore Railway Line was the southernmost segment in the West Coast Line of the Malayan railway system. It was mooted as early as the 1860s, approved by the Legislative Council in 1899 and completed in 1903 at a cost of $2 million. Read more about it here.

Singapore Traction Company

Through the enactment of the Singapore Traction Ordinance, the company enjoyed a monopoly of the trolley bus service. It also dominated motor bus routes in the city although there were no statutory privileges established for motor buses. Read more about it here.

Land Transport Authority

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport in Singapore. First established in September 1995, it is responsible for planning, operating and maintaining Singapore’s land transport infrastructure and systems. Read more about it here.

Electronic Road Pricing

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) launched the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system in April 1998 as a new way to manage traffic congestion. Phase I was completed in September 1998. Read more about it here.

Learn from the past with these significant events that have left a mark on Singapore’s transport history. What measures have been built since then? Let’s find out more about the Great Singapore Traction Company Strike and SMRT bus drivers’ strike.