The name is a legacy of the company's early period, when public transit in Hamilton was primarily served by streetcars.

Although streetcars are no longer used in the city today, the HSR operates bus and paratransit services, with a ridership of 21 million passengers a year.

On March 29, 1873, the HSR was established after Ontario passed An Act to incorporate "The Hamilton Street Railway Company.

In 1904, HSR provided rush-hour service north from Barton Street over the tracks of the Hamilton Radial Electric Railway (HRER) along Birch Avenue.

After the Hamilton and Dundas Street Railway ceased operation in 1923, HSR took over a portion of its line along Aberdeen Avenue to Longwood Road.

This was possible because all but one of HSR's 16 newer trolley buses (model E800A) had been retrofitted in 1989–90 with a small auxiliary diesel engine for off-wire movements.

However, after HSR concluded that the Edmonton vehicles would require costly modifications for Hamilton, the regional council voted on March 1, 1994 to make the system's closure permanent.

[24] HSR is proposing to build a new garage at the site of the former Wentworth Street Transit Centre.

In January 2023, HSR posted bid documents; it hopes to open the new facility in 2024 to supplement the overcrowded Mountain Transit Centre.

[26] Most bus routes in Hamilton operate all of the week, from early morning to late at a night, or past midnight.

[35] The routes are very limited in length, and provide a safe way for cyclists to ascend or descend the mountain, in order to encourage active transportation.

[36] Metrolinx, the provincial public transit agency, is planning a 14-kilometre (8.7 mi) light rail line along the Main/King corridor from McMaster University to Eastgate Square.

[39] In 2023, a concept plan to prepare the bus routes in the city for the addition of the Hamilton LRT project was presented.

The wheelchair accessible terminal has heated platforms, bus shelters, public washrooms and a green roof.

The station, located at 36 Hunter Street East, a few blocks south of King and James, is the terminus of the Lakeshore West railway line and express Highway 407 and Queen Elizabeth Way GO Buses.

[44] It is also the former Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway (TH&B) passenger station, and there is a small museum above the public concourse.

HSR routes 2 and 4 also connect with GO at Barton Street & Nash Road in East Hamilton, where a GO bus travels between there and the Burlington GO Station.

At the Mountain Transit Centre transfer point (served by route 27) and a contract with Blue Line Taxi, the HSR also connects with other areas in the northwest portion of the former Glanbrook.

[47] Starting in 2023, riders could tap their credit or debit card on the Presto reader to pay the cash fare amount.

[50] The local does not represent those working on city's paratransit service, Disabled and Aged Regional Transportation System (DARTS), which is a separate, non-profit charitable organization that contracts with HSR.

[51] After regular collective bargaining talks broke down, ATU Local 107 workers went on strike at 12 am on November 9, 2023.

[52] The union cited wage increases that did not keep up with the rate of inflation in a handout given to passengers in the days proceeding the job action.

[53] The strike came as the city was preparing and hosting festivities for the 110th Grey Cup, for which HSR had been planning to run a shuttle service for fans.

[55] The new 4-year contract was ratified by Local 107 members on November 23 with 81% voting in favour[56] of the deal that in lieu of a changed wage offer, gave transit workers a one-time payment as well as benefit increases.