Reo Safety Bus

c. 1926
Overview

A parlour car with marque 'Reo Safety Bus' on a later style of bonnet.

Historical information

The Bluebird Motor Coach service was commenced late 1920 or early 1921 by Charles Henry Spicer. The service ran from Fremantle Town Hall to Perth via Karrakatta. The single fare was one shilling and sixpence, return two shillings and sixpence.

In 1922 George David joined the business. In 1926 they joined with the Red Reo Char-A-Banc Service and became the Metropolitan Omnibus Company (Metro Buses Ltd).

Metro progressively replaced their charabancs and early model buses with new Leyland units, running via Loch Street, Railway Road and Nicholson Road.

To compete with cheap railway fares, Metro introduced cheaper fares and pruned costs rather than lose patrons.

In 1933, Metro proposed that they be allowed to install a trolley bus service between Perth and Fremantle in lieu of petrol buses. It was rejected by the government.

In 1935, Metro completed negotiations with the Alpine Taxi Association to purchase goodwill and licences of some of their taxis. Forty-three taxis came together to set up the Metro bus subsidiary the Perth-Fremantle Omnibus Company Ltd. The other forty-five taxis formed the Alpine Parlour Car Omnibus Company.

In 1958 Metro was compulsorily acquired by a new government authority, the Metropolitan Transport Trust (MTT).

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-28--9-157-c
Item type
Year
Last modified
Friday, 25 July, 2025
Completeness
94
Permissions

For authorisation to reproduce, publish or display, please contact the Claremont Museum.

Attribution requirements

Acknowledgements to be made to 'Claremont Museum 09.157c'.

Claremont Museum

Claremont Museum

Organisation details
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Reo Safety Bus
Reo Safety Bus
Source: Claremont Museum 09.157c

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