In fall 1863, a group of local businessmen and public figures from Quebec City presented a petition at the Parliament of the Province of Canada for the incorporation of a streetcar company.
Among them were Pierre Garneau and John Lemesurier, future mayors of Quebec City, entrepreneurs Guillaume-Eugène Chinic and Cérice Têtu and many others.
The group was incorporated under the name Quebec Street Railway Company. (
QSRC) on October 15, 1863.
It obtained the right to build a system for the city five neighbourhoods.
Nevertheless, it was mainly the commercial and port sector of the Lower Town that interested the company.
First, they established a horse-drawn omnibus between Champlain Market and St. Ours Street barrier.
Wooden rails were embedded in the roadway in this corridor to create the first horsecar line.
The service started on August 18, 1865.
The arrival of streetcars disrupted centuries-old practices: a ticket cost 5 cents while a horse-drawn carriage varied between 25 and 50 cents.
Coach drivers denounced unfair competition and some vehicles were vandalized, rails removed and drivers brutalized.
Also, the city and the company were sometimes inconsistent, regarding for instance who was responsible for road maintenance.
Moreover, for financial reasons, the company refused to expand its network to the Upper Town, which would also have benefited from public transport.
In 1874, the QSRC proceeded to an extension toward Saint-Sauveur, which was not part of the city at the time, to build its depot and avoid paying taxes to the municipality.

Streecars appeared in the Upper Town from 1878 onwards with the creation of a second company, the St. John Street Railway Company Ltd. It built a line linking the Château Frontenac to De Salaberry Avenue through St. John Street.
Stables were situated at the intersection with Philippe-Dorval Street.
In fall 1863, a group of local businessmen and public figures from Quebec City presented a petition at the Parliament of the Province of Canada for the incorporation of a streetcar company. Among them were Pierre Garneau and John Lemesurier, future mayors of Quebec City, entrepreneurs Guillaume-Eugène Chinic and Cérice Têtu and many others. The group was incorporated under the name Quebec Street Railway Company. (QSRC) on October 15, 1863. It obtained the right to build a system for the city five neighbourhoods. Nevertheless, it was mainly the commercial and port sector of the Lower Town that interested the company. First, they established a horse-drawn omnibus between Champlain Market and St. Ours Street barrier. Wooden rails were embedded in the roadway in this corridor to create the first horsecar line. The service started on August 18, 1865. The arrival of streetcars disrupted centuries-old practices: a ticket cost 5 cents while a horse-drawn carriage varied between 25 and 50 cents. Coach drivers denounced unfair competition and some vehicles were vandalized, rails removed and drivers brutalized. Also, the city and the company were sometimes inconsistent, regarding for instance who was responsible for road maintenance. Moreover, for financial reasons, the company refused to expand its network to the Upper Town, which would also have benefited from public transport. In 1874, the QSRC proceeded to an extension toward Saint-Sauveur, which was not part of the city at the time, to build its depot and avoid paying taxes to the municipality.
Streecars appeared in the Upper Town from 1878 onwards with the creation of a second company, the St. John Street Railway Company Ltd. It built a line linking the Château Frontenac to De Salaberry Avenue through St. John Street. Stables were situated at the intersection with Philippe-Dorval Street.
Quebec City Tramway