Present hybrid electrical buses

The earliest tour bus 

Present mobile payment

Conductor in the past

Luggage separated from passengers 

Basket carrier placed on the bus firstly

Present driver’s cab

Shabby driver’s cab before

Comfortable bus

Passengers squashing up into the bus (All provided by Chongqing North Public Transport Company Limited)

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Passengers could only count on their strength to get on the bus, and depend on their balance to remain standing. 

Do you know what buses in Chongqing looked like decades ago? Just a few days ago, Chongqing City Transportation Development & Investment Group Co., Ltd. Chongqing North Public Transport Company Limited has released a group of pictures of the buses decades ago. These pictures reflect the development of this city and changes of buses. 

Bus is almost an indispensible vehicle for Chongqing locals, after all Chongqing is honored as “mountain city”. According to Chongqing North Public Transport Company Limited, from the Beibei tour buses in 1946 to today’s hybrid electrical buses, these pictures recorded the development of Chongqing and the history of buses in Chongqing. 

Vehicle: the earliest tour buses compared to the present hybrid electrical buses

The tour buses in the 1940s marked the founding of Chongqing North Public Transport Company Limited. 

In the beginning, there were only two America-made “Dodge” buses. The route had the following stops: Beibei, Qingmuguan, Geleshan, Shapingba and Xiangpingjie, extending about 80 miles. There were only four shuttles every day, departing synchronously at 07:00 and 13:00 from both the origin station and the destination. 

80 years has passed. Chongqing now uses plug-in hybrid electrical buses; and more attention has been paid to high energy efficiency and customers’ experience. Tour buses have officially retired. 

Seats: customers needed to push his/her way into the bus in the past, but now comfortableness is highly emphasized

Passengers could still recall the days when there were much less buses, and when they had to squeeze through the crowd into buses. As time flies, technologies such as big data monitoring, intelligent scheduling, on-time operation and transport capacity guarantee make sure that the once crowded scene can only be seen in the pictures now. 

Driving: the shabby driver’s cab in the past compared to the present advanced and safe driver’s cab

Decades ago, the driver’s cab looked very simple. With the development of technologies, the present dash broad is more intelligent and customized for drivers’ driving habits. 

Chongqing North Public Transport Company Limited remarks that the passenger environment changes as time passes by, but the drivers never forget their responsibility to keep the passengers safe and comfortable. 

Passenger: basket carriers got on the bus before their owners in the past, but now passengers and their luggage are separated

Do you still remember the call of “excuse me, basket carriers in hand”?

Nowadays, there are luggage rack and cargo compartment to put personal luggage. Drivers provide considerate services. 

Ticket-selling: shouting compared to swiping

Do you remember the conductress on the buses?

“Shouting” was the only way for the conductors to make themselves heard by the passengers when there was a large crowd, for which model workers such as Li Suli became known in Beijing. 

With the advent of self-service ticketing, conductors are replaced by swiping card and mobile payment. (Translated by Xu Mengxue, Fathom Language Limited)