Today, it is impossible to imagine Saratov without public transport. Every day, the city's residents cover significant distances to get to work, school, shopping centers, cafes, and cinemas. It is thanks to transport that cities have grown and developed.

In the early 18th century, Saratov's borders stretched from the Volga along Valovaya and Oktyabrskaya streets, and the entire city could be crossed on foot in 15 minutes. However, the city continued to grow, and by the 19th century, the distances within it no longer seemed so small. About 130 years ago, Saratov's borders extended to the Voskresensky cemetery in the south and Degtyarnaya Square in the north. A walk from the workers' settlement to the market could take a whole hour.

Horse owners had an advantage in mobility, but not everyone had horses. This created a demand for private carriage services. In Saratov, cab drivers were divided into light, heavy, and hired carriages. The City Duma approved the fare, and cab drivers were required to present it to passengers. At night and on holidays, they were allowed to charge double.

Cab drivers waited for orders at stands in crowded places in the city, but their service prices were high for the poorer segments of the population. To make transport more accessible, it was necessary to reduce costs. The solution was to increase seating capacity. In Europe, in the 19th century, the omnibus appeared, a multi-seater carriage for 12-20 passengers drawn by horses, which became the predecessor of the bus. Omnibuses operated in major cities like St. Petersburg.

Saratov did not have omnibuses, although their organization was planned in 1866. However, they were soon replaced by horse-drawn railways, which had many advantages. The city roads at that time were in poor condition, and the tram, moving on rails, provided a more comfortable ride. Horses could pull heavier carriages, making them more spacious than omnibuses.

The first passenger tram appeared in the USA in 1828, and in Russia, in St. Petersburg in 1863. In Saratov, the history of rail transport began with the tram. The contract for its construction was signed on December 25, 1885, between the City Administration and Leonid Petrovich Blümmer. Blümmer, a nobleman and graduate of Moscow University, founded a joint-stock company and signed a 40-year concession agreement. In 1887, the tram was put into operation, and its network consisted of two lines. The fare was 5 kopecks for first class and 3 kopecks for second.

At the terminal stations, horses were fed and watered, and additional horses were used for uphill climbs. Tram movement was left-sided. Over time, the number of lines increased, and the tram brought significant profits to the joint-stock company. In 1888, after Blümmer's death, management passed to the company, which successfully operated for another 20 years until the tram was replaced by the streetcar.