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Motor buses were first introduced to singapore,nicknamed”mosquito buses”,these buses were small and seven seater,plying through the streets unlicensed,looking for passengers,they were run by chinese individuals serving mainly rural and sub-urban areas.

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Trolley buses operated by Singapore Traction Company(STC) were buses that drew electricity from overhead wires.

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In 1929, STC introduced its own motor bus fleet to compete against the mosquito buses

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A period of expansion soon followed, but this was accompanied by failed attempts at further regulatory controls, as well as growing public dissatisfaction with the bus transport service.

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Singapore fell to the japanese in world war 2 and all public bus services seized.

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after the war, the survivors of the bus companies try to get back to their feet,these companies include:

• Singapore Traction Company
• Kampong Bahru Bus Service (established in the 1930s)
• Tay Koh Yat Bus Company (established in 1932; absorbed Seletar Motor Bus Company by 1940)
• Changi Bus Company (established in 1933)
• Green Bus Company (established in 1934; absorbed Jurong Omnibus Service in 1945)
• Katong-Bedok Bus Service Company (established in 1935)
• Paya Lebar Bus Service (established in 1935)
• Keppel Bus Company (established in 1936)
• Punggol Bus Service (established in 1936)
• Easy Bus Company (established in 1946)
• Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus Company (formed in 1951 from a merger between Ngo Hock Motor Bus Company, established in 1929, and Soon Lee Bus Company, established in 1931)

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Public bus services in the late 1940s and 50s were marred by corruption and worker strikes. Dubbed as “The Squeeze”.

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Singapore’s changing political landscape over the next decade would delay the nationalisation process as the newly formed government paid attention to more urgent issues such as housing.

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the 1970 White Paper titled Reorganisation of the Motor Transport Service of Singapore, which also recommended conducting a separate study on the coordination and rationalisation of bus routes. This led to the Wilson Report, or A Study of the Public Bus Transport System of Singapore, in the same year.

Both reports recommended that the first step towards nationalising public bus services was to merge the 10 Chinese bus companies into three regional companies servicing the eastern, northern and western parts of Singapore, alongside a reorganisation of STC (to continue servicing the central sector), which had been suffering severe operating losses. In addition, the Wilson Report also provided detailed recommendations for bus routes, frequencies, fares, vehicle design and models, design infrastructure for bus stops and terminals, and maintenance standards.

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On 11 April 1971, the 11 existing bus companies were reorganised into four entities: Amalgamated Bus Company, Associated Bus Services, United Bus Company and STC. In a sudden turn of events, STC, the oldest bus company among the four, announced in December the same year, only nine months after the amalgamation, that it would cease operations. STC − which once owned the largest fleet of trolley buses in the world – had suffered staggering losses, contributed in part by its own systemic organisational problems and increasing competition as a result of losing its business monopoly.STC’s demise was sealed when it was acquired by the other three bus companies.

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With little progress made by bus companies on the recommendations put forward by the aforementioned reports, deteriorating bus services became the subject of a parliamentary debate on 12 March 1973. Several members of parliament pointed out the frequent breakdowns, reckless driving and the poor service mentality of bus workers in general. A letter by a L.P.H. published in The Straits Times on 16 March 1973 also noted that long drives without rest, made worse by “boneshaker buses”, the tropical heat, traffic congestion, and the smell and fumes from old engines contributed to drivers’ fatigue and did little to boost the morale of bus workers.

Left with no choice, the government announced the merger of the three bus companies to form Singapore Bus Service (SBS) on 1 July 1973. It was believed that a single bus operator would help eliminate the problems of wasteful competition, lack of standardisation, and duplication in route services that had dogged public bus services since the very beginning. Not unexpectedly, the merger began on a rocky note as shares of SBS were still held by the former Chinese bus companies, with allocation based on the relative sizes of the companies prior to the amalgamation in 1971. In other words, SBS was a cooperative – and not a single entity – run by 10 different companies.

The mammoth task of reorganising and overhauling SBS’s operating structure and culture was left to a task force of senior civil servants known as the Government Team of Officials (GTO) in May 1974. Appointed by then Minister for Communications Yong Nyuk Lin, the team − comprising Wong Hung Khim, Yap Boon Keng, Ang Teck Leong, Yeo Seng Teck, Lo Wing Fai, Ong Chuan Tat and Mah Bow Tan − was seconded to SBS to oversee the transformation.

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SBS, now known as SBS Transit, introduced the first ever double decker buses to Singapore, The leyland atlantean AN68.

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First ever trains were introduced to Singapore operated by SMRT.

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The EZ-Link card is the first local contactless stored value card introduced in April 2002 for use on public transport.

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The North East Line is the first completely underground and fully automated MRT line in Singapore, using a CBTC signaling system. It connects the northeast region to the city center and serves as a major part of Singapore's integrated public transport system.

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Introduction of distance fare charges making it the fares more equitable by charging on the actual distance travelled,not by the stages

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The introduction of the downtown line, enhancing the connectivity in the central business district.This new line will eventually became the longest underground fully automated line in singapore.

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Introduction of SimplyGo, allowing commuters to use contactless bank cards and phones to pay for fares.

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Introduction of the Thomson-East Coast Line.Featuring more advanced technologies and improved accessibility features.

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Introduction of Electric Buses, showing the nation’s commitment to sustainable transportation.

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Commuters can now use their American Express cards for contactless payments on public transport, starting May , 2025.