April 2026. Let’s go to France. My first idea was going on a midweek getaway to Le Mans in the Sarthe department, in the Pays de la Loire or Lands of the Loire region. But there were no tours available for the Circuit de la Sarthe. So instead I opted for Nantes in the Loire-Atlantique department, but which is historically and culturally the capital of Brittany. And within my stay, I did visit Le Mans and the Circuit Bugatti.
Two hundred years ago today, on 10 August 1826, the world’s first public transport service began operation in the French port city of Nantes. At least, that’s how the story goes. In 1824, John Greenwood started such a service in Manchester in England, United Kingdom. But that was between cities.
I learned this from Jason Slaughter from YouTube channel Not Just Bikes launched a new series on Nebula: Day Pass. In episode 1, ‘The Birthplace of Public Transit – Nantes‘, Jason tells the story.
Stanislas Baudry, a retired colonel and enterprising businessman, launched a regular horse-drawn carriage service connecting the districts of Richebourg and Salorges. Each of his two carriages could carry 16 passengers, and the service quickly earned a nickname that would echo across the globe: omnibus.
The name itself was borrowed from the Latin phrase Omnes Omnibus, “for all”, displayed on the sign of a hatter’s shop near the route’s terminus. Passengers began to say, “Je prends l’omnibus!” (“I’m taking the omnibus!“), and the term stuck. What started as a local convenience soon became a worldwide phenomenon, transforming how people moved through cities.
The road to innovation
Baudry’s venture was not entirely without precedent. In 17th-century Paris, the mathematician and inventor Blaise Pascal had attempted a similar system of public carriages, launching five routes on 18 March 1662.
Pascal’s ‘carrosses à cinq sols‘ (five-sous carriages) were intended to serve all Parisians, but the project faltered due to resistance from the elite, who disliked sharing space with the lower classes. The service folded after just 15 years, a casualty of social division and high fares.
Fast forward to the early 19th century, and the stage was set for Baudry’s breakthrough. After retiring from Napoleon’s army, he repurposed a flour mill in Richebourg, using its steam engine to power a bathhouse. To attract customers, he offered free carriage rides from the city centre to his establishment.
A carriage, marked ‘Bains de Richebourg’, made regular trips between Place du Port-aux-Vins (now Place du Commerce) and the Richebourg baths. Baudry intended to recoup his costs through increased bathhouse attendance. However, many passengers used the carriage simply to travel between districts, as Richebourg was an economically vibrant area. Baudry recognised the potential for a public transport business.
When he noticed that many riders used the service simply to travel between neighbourhoods, Baudry saw an opportunity.
On 30 September 1826, his company began official operations, with two lines and a fleet of white-painted carriages named after a popular opera, ‘La Dame Blanche‘.
The service was an immediate success. By January 1828, Baudry had expanded to Paris, founding the Entreprise générale des omnibus. Within months, the company operated 89 carriages, employed 200 people, and served thousands of daily passengers. The omnibus had arrived, and it was here to stay.
A global legacy
Baudry’s idea spread rapidly. His son, Edmond, established similar services in Bordeaux and Lyon.
In England, entrepreneurs like John Greenwood had already experimented with scheduled carriage routes in Manchester as early as 1824, though these were aimed at wealthier customers. The omnibus, by contrast, was democratic: affordable, reliable, and open to all.
By the mid-19th century, horse-drawn omnibus networks had become a fixture in cities across Europe and North America. The vehicles evolved, too—adding upper decks, adopting new propulsion methods, and eventually giving way to motorised buses. Yet the core principle remained: public transport as a shared resource, connecting people and places.
Tragedy and triumph
Despite his success, Baudry’s story ended in tragedy. Facing financial strain from competition and a harsh winter in 1830, he took his own life on 13 March of that year.
Yet his legacy endured. The Compagnie générale des omnibus, which absorbed his Parisian operations, became the foundation of the city’s modern transport network, eventually evolving into the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP).
Today, as we mark the 200th anniversary of the omnibus, Baudry’s vision seems more relevant than ever. From electric buses to ride-sharing apps, the spirit of the omnibus – affordable, accessible, and communal – continues to shape how we navigate our cities.
A word for the future
The omnibus was more than a mode of transport; it was a social equaliser. In an era of growing urbanisation and inequality, Baudry’s innovation reminded us that progress is not just about speed or technology, but about connection. As we look ahead to the next 200 years, the challenge remains: how do we ensure that public transport continues to serve everyone, just as the omnibus once did?
The first line
The first line, or the first itinerary, still exists. Tram 1 will take you from Rue Stanislas Baudry, near the railway station, to Place du Commerce.
