Great Malaysian Railway Journeys
JINRIKISHA STATION - SINGAPORE

view of Singapore Rickshaw Station

I wrote these Great Malaysian Railway Journey pages during the period 2014-2017. They used to be hosted on a separate Weebly website but, since mid 2026, Weebly is no longer available for customers in Malaysia so I am transferring the content here. Some of the information may be outdated and of historical interest only.

Jinrikishas (rickshaws) were the cheapest and most convenient method of transport in Singapore in 1914, when the Federated Malay States Railway's Pamphlet of Information for Travellers was written.

The following table from the pamphlet details the fares applicable in Singapore in 1914. These fares were controlled by the Jinrikisha Department of the Government which also registered, licensed and inspected rickshaws.

rickshaw fare table

Note there were two classes of rickshaw. 1st Class had superior 'English wooden seating' and rubber cushioned wheels. First class also used a runner to trot behind the rickshaw for the safety of passengers.
Rickshaws were first introduced in Singapore in 1880 from Shanghai, although the word Jin-riki-sha, meaning man-power-vehicle, comes from Japan where rickshaws were also a prevalent conveyance. In Malay, rickshaws were known as kereta Hong Kong.

Japanese jinrikisha photo shotSource: National Archives of Singapore

Originally they were two-seaters but these were often too heavy for the strong but scrawny pullers and were phased out in favour of single-seaters, which were somewhat less back-breaking, from around 1914.

rickshaw puller

By 1919 there were 9,000 rickshaws plying Singapore's streets, operated by 20,000 pullers working long, exhausting shifts. The pullers were coolies from China and did not own the rickshaws. This led to exploitation by the owners who skimmed off the bulk of the pullers' meagre earnings.
Pullers from different clans would sometimes clash violently to compete for the most lucrative pitches. The pitch in front of the Raffles Hotel was a particularly prime spot.

Jinrikisha Station, SingaporeJinrikisha Pullers' Quarters

The pullers lived in overcrowded, insanitary quarters with wooden beds stacked in tiers or slept on straw cots on the floor. It is not surprising that many pullers turned to opium to bring relief from their grim existence.


Rickshaws were eventually banned in the years following WWII as the occupation was recognised as degrading work for the pullers and also rickshaws were slowing down road traffic which was starting to become heavy. Rickshaws were replaced by trishaws, trams and buses.

triangular shaped Jinrikisha building

The historic Jinrikisha Station situated at the junction of Neil Road and Tanjong Pagar Road, was built in 1903 as a public building from where the rickshaw business was regulated.

Jinrikisha building from Neil Road

It is triangular shaped, designed by architect David McLeod Craik and Municipal Engineer Samuel Tomlinson. Architectural buffs have described the style as 'neo-revivalist baroque' with ionic pilasters, a curved pediment and an octagonal cupola above a square tower.

inscription showing date of construction

The building has been preserved and is now used for restaurants, bars and offices. It is said that famous Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan purchased the building in 2007 for S$11 million.

Jinrikisha Station sign
Japanese woman and child in rickshawJapanese Jinrikisha Illustration from the 1930's by Marguerite Davis

Share this page:

AUTHOR BIO

the author

David (the one on the left) is the writer behind Malaysia Traveller, sharing first-hand travel advice from over five decades of living and travelling across Asia and the Middle East. Based in Malaysia since 2009 and now in Kuching, he has published over 790 pages on this website, personally visited every place he covers, and uses only his own photos. Readers can learn more on his About Me page. He also shares updates on Facebook and YouTube. He loves uncovering overlooked places that even some Malaysians have never visited.