Regina is proud to say that it has the oldest transit system in Saskatchewan. The period since 1911 has been rich in history as public transportation grew with the city through time of boom and bust.
We invite you to take a ride with us through this wonderful history.
 
The Early Years – 1911- 1919

Saskatchewan was booming in 1911 and so was its capital city. Regina boasted a population of 30,000. 
The four streetcars put into service by the Regina Municipal Railway (RMR) on July 28, 1911 were proof that Regina was a modern and up-to-date city.
 

July 28, 1911 - the inauguration parade leaving from in front of Regina City Hall.
Photo: Saskatchewan Archives

Citizens were bursting with pride as the new streetcars travelled to and from the exhibition grounds on July 31st, opening day of the world-class Dominion Exhibition.  Fares were set at five cents per trip.

During the first two years of operation, the system nearly tripled its original 10 miles of track, boasted 34 streetcars, and employed over 150 people.  In addition to passenger service, the railway expanded to haul freight, coal and garbage.
 

Regina Municipal Railway trackage - 1911
Map by A. Clegg

The boom collapsed in 1914.  During the course of World War 1, the city's population declined, ridership dropped and cutbacks occurred.  There were no further expansions and many tracks were dismantled.
Advertising on billboards was introduced in larger cars.

By 1919, returning servicemen were making a difference and the system carried a million more passengers than in the previous year.
 

Challenging Times – 1920 –1949

In 1920, fares were raised to 10 cents. Streetcars became “one man operations” with only a motorman on duty eliminating the job of the conductor. 

In the late 1920s, the system was serving a growing active city and maintained a fairly steady pace. New and larger cars were purchased.  But tough times were ahead. The "dirty 30's" saw huge deficits resulting in major cutbacks in service.

By 1931, there was only 20 miles of track left. Through an agreement with the railway, the first operation of a bus service was established.  Checker Stage Service Ltd. provided 20-minute service from downtown to the Cathedral area.

With World War ll's shortage of gasoline and steel, ridership grew dramatically.  The 32 streetcars used in 1945 carried nine million more passengers than they had in 1940.

By 1946, the system had carried a record 17,355,095 people.
In 1947, the railway introduced the first trolleys – electrical cars with rubber tires. Garbage disposal and coal hauling were eliminated. By the end of the year, much of street railway had disappeared.

In 1949, disaster struck when one of the most destructive fires in western Canada destroyed the car barns, 17 trolley coaches, nine gasoline buses, five steel streetcars and nine wooden cars. It took almost a year to replace the loss.

 
A spectacular fire, which all but crippled transit services in Regina - January 23,1949
Photo: L.H. Shaw, Regina Leader Post
 
In 1950, the name was changed to Regina Transit System (RTS). That same year, the regular street railway service ended as car 43 rolled into the barns after 22 years and 1.25 million miles of service
Photo: National Film Board

Expanding Services - 1950-1986

The RTS used trolleys exclusively until 1955, when the first diesel buses were introduced. Buses slowly began to replace trolleys.  The last trolley completed its route in 1966.

To keep pace with the growth of new suburbs in the 50s and 60s, the Regina Transit System added more routes.  Residents were served by a fleet of diesel buses travelling to and from the downtown core.

In the early 70s, the Regina Transit System experimented with a Telebus service using small buses that came right to the door in suburban neighbourhoods. It was intended to complement the fixed-route service offered in more densely-populated areas of the city. It was discontinued in the early 80s.

In 1975, a Paratransit Service began providing residents with disabilities who were unable to use regular transit. It provided door-to-door, driver assisted service.

In 1986, 106 buses carried over 35,000 passengers every day.
 

Expanding Customer Service… 
Moving into the 21st Century

At the request of customers, Night Stop was introduced in 1993 allowing customers to exit the bus at any point along the regular bus route after dark.

SafeBus was introduced in 1996.  People in need of assistance can find a safe refuge in any Regina Transit vehicle while the bus operator radios the appropriate emergency service for assistance.

Low-floor buses were introduced in 1998 to enable persons with disabilities to access regular public transportation.

In 2000, 98 diesel buses including five smaller feeder buses and seven low-floor buses carried 6.4 million passengers over 4.8 million kilometres on nine integrated routes. There are 153 drivers and 1,200 bus stops strategically placed throughout the city.
 

Glad to have you on board!

For more information, including schedules, call 777-RIDE (7433) or visit the Transit Information Centre at 2124 - 11th. Avenue (next to the Bay).