1906: Swiss Post in motion – the first Postbus

The history of the Postbus is closely linked to the history of the horse coach service, but also to the development of tourism in Switzerland. In 1850, passenger transport is Swiss Post’s most important area of operations. The number of routes served by mail coaches increases steadily in the years that follow. While the railways gradually replace mail routes on important transport connections, passenger routes gain in importance in transalpine traffic. Mail routes create access to remote areas, connect larger villages to the railways and ensure that there are cross-connections between railway lines.

Bumpy start

1906 sees the inauguration of the first scheduled motor vehicle mail route: 14-seat buses are now operating between Bern and Detligen, some 20 kilometres away. Compared to the mail coaches, they offer more seats, travel twice as fast, and run more frequently. However, they are prone to failure and expensive to operate. Moreover, at the beginning of the 20th century, there is a great deal of scepticism towards motor vehicles. The real boom in Postbus operations begins only after the First World War, not least because Swiss Post converts 40 army trucks into Postbuses following the war. After 1920, technical progress can no longer be stopped. Motor vehicles replace the horse coach service on numerous routes. After the Second World War, the Postbus goes from being an occasional sight to an everyday means of transport.