Originally posted by Photoshop:
[b]Before TIBS and SBS, I think there
were 3 bus companies (can't remember their names). Once there was
STC(Singapore Traction company, if I remember my history right).
What about bus companies even before that? Any names? Which was the
first bus company in Singapore?[/b]
The Singapore Electric Tramsway Limited was the first company
given the go-ahead to build, equip and run tramsways. Six lines
were laid through the town and trams started running in 1905. At
its peak, trams carried an average of 11,000 passengers
daily.
In October 1925, the Shanghai Electric Construction Company Limited
established the Singapore Traction Company (STC). STC was given a
30-year monopoly to run trolley buses and motor buses within the
town. By 1929, there were 90 trolley buses serving a total distance
of 30.5 km.
It was only in the early seventies that the bus system underwent
its first major reorganisation. The ten Chinese bus companies were
amalgamated into three bus companies and grouped into three
regional sectors. The Amalgamated Bus Company Limited served the
eastern sector of Singapore; the Associated Bus Services (Private)
Limited had its services plying the western sector; the United Bus
Limited served the northern sector; and the southern sector fell
under the STC's area of operation.
Despite the reorganisation, the transport situation did not
improve. Bus commuters had to put up with frequent breakdowns,
under-operation of bus services, irregular fares and route
structures. It was also during this time that STC closed down its
operations due to great financial losses.
A second reorganisation of the bus system took place. The three
Chinese bus companies were merged into a single, unified
organisation. The new company, the Singapore Bus Service (SBS),
came into operation in November 1973.
[Taken from Tibs website]