albert tours bus london calcutta

Thought Might

Community Blog

Home » Traveling » The World’s Longest Bus Route (London-Calcutta)

The World’s Longest Bus Route (London-Calcutta)

Prepare to be amazed by this intriguing historical journey – a time when one could embark on a bus ride from Calcutta to London! Unbelievable but true, the world’s longest road stretched from Calcutta to London. Surprisingly, it wasn’t an Indian or English initiative but the brainchild of Sydney’s Albert Tour and Travels Company.

Spanning an impressive 25-year period, starting on April 15, 1957, this extraordinary bus service offered an unforgettable odyssey. The rent was just 85 pounds to 145 pounds.

An Epic Overland Adventure

The historic bus route, orchestrated by Albert Travel, commenced its maiden journey on April 15, 1957, departing from the vibrant city of London. This extraordinary expedition embarked on a momentous quest, reaching the enchanting city of Calcutta (now Kolkata) on June 5, marking a captivating journey of approximately 50 days.

If you start from Kolkata, the journey will take you through a mesmerizing path encompassing Banaras, Allahabad, Agra, Delhi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Kabul, Kandahar, Tehran, Istanbul, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Vienna, West Germany, and finally Belgium, before reaching the captivating destination of London. This remarkable expedition covered a staggering 20,300 kilometers and spanned across 11 diverse and captivating countries. This journey earned the nickname “Hippie Route” due to its popularity among adventurous travelers.

This extraordinary bus tour offered a luxurious experience with reading facilities, separate sleeping bunks, and fan-operated heaters. A fully equipped kitchen catered to all culinary needs. The upper deck featured a forward observation lounge, and onboard entertainment included radio and music for lively parties. Travelers enjoyed ample time to explore tourist hotspots like Banaras and the Taj Mahal. Shopping opportunities in Tehran, Salzburg, Kabul, Istanbul, and Vienna added to the enchanting journey.

Albert had completed about 15 tours between Kolkata and England and four trips between England and Australia until 1976. It had crossed nearly 150 borders without much scrutiny and had earned the tag of ‘ friendly ambassador ’ in all the nations it traversed.

Unfortunately, the service ended in 1976 due to challenges in Iran and escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, leaving behind a lasting legacy in travel history.

Read more from Traveling

Written by:

Have you written on ThoughtMight? Write Today

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 Yes, add me to your mailing list.

China’s Smash Sparrows Campaign and Nature’s Revenge!

Forest of Naked Women, Severe Punishment if Men Enter

English is Hard

Sherlock Holmes Called Him ‘The Ordinary Detective’

Floating Guava Market

Colonial Taxes and the French Vicious Cycle

The Bus Service From London To India Was Once The Longest Bus Route In the World

The epic journey crossed Europe and Asia, taking in 20,000 miles and 12 countries in just 50 days.

If we told you that you could travel from one side of the world to another, on a bus, would you believe us? Probably not, given the current state of London public transport . While this may not be a possibility now in 2024, it sure was in 1957.

For a humble £145 , the bus service also known as the ‘Hippie Route’ would travel from London through Belgium , Yugoslavia to Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) in India.

According to reports, the journey took about 50 days for the bus to reach Kolkata from London , spanning across 10,000 miles one way. The bus was an AEC Regal III model with ‘London to Calcutta’ displayed right across it that departed from London on April 15, 1957 and was driven by a man called Oswald-Joseph Garrow-Fisher.

This bus service was considered to be the longest bus route in the world. With the first service arriving in Calcutta on June 5, 50 days later – the bus travelled from England to Belgium and then to India through Germany , Austria, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and North Western India.

The bus was better equipped than you think. Sleeping compartments, fans, music – there was more to keep the passengers comfortable during the long trip and in some cases passengers slept in hotels overnight or even camped if there was no other accommodation available.

The trip was more like a tour than just a single bus journey.

Some of the stops on the tour included stunning sights like The Taj Mahal, Banaras on the Ganges, The Caspian Sea Coast, Khyber Pass to name a few with shopping days in Tehran, Salzburg, Kabul, Istanbul and Vienna.

After a good few years, the bus met with an accident and became unstable. It was later purchased by Andy Stewart, a British traveller who rebuilt it to be a ‘mobile home’ and double decker! Renamed as Albert, the double decker traveled from Sydney to London via India in 1968.

This bus route reached India via Iran and continued its journey to Singapore through Burma (now Myanmar), Thailand and Malaysia . The bus was then transported to Perth by ship from the ports of Singapore where it travelled to Sydney by road.

With the same facilities as before, the charge for this bus service was £145 as well.

Albert Tours, a company based in England and Australia, operated the London-Calcutta-London and London-Calcutta-Sydney routes for years to come completing 15 trips before discontinuing its service in 1976.

With heated political conditions leading up to the Iranian Revolution and the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the route became too unsafe and so the service ended permanently.

Pretty crazy, right?

TYPE IN YOUR SEARCH AND PRESS ENTER

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

Home / Culture / History & Heritage The bus route between Calcutta and England that crossed 150 borders!

A bus ride from London to Calcutta in the 1950s sounds incredible, right? That was the general consensus when random news about the world’s longest luxury bus route cropped up from time to time. But recent photographs have popped up from the annals of long-forgotten history to bust the large-scale confusion and skepticism of the masses. Since last year, an image went viral on internet depicting passengers boarding the Calcutta-bound bus from Victoria Coach Station in London. And now an advertisement of the bus has also appeared in the public domain to substantiate the claim.

The double-decker bus was known as Albert and the trips covered by it were called Albert Tours service from London, England to Calcutta. It is said to be the longest bus route in the world that began its journey from London on April 15, 1957. Tickets were priced at £85 for the London to Calcutta section and £65 for the return journey. The inaugural trip started with 20 passengers on board among whom seven passengers (two women and five men) returned to London, thus completing the round trip. The bus was routed to India via Belgium, Yugoslavia  and the north-western India. This route is also known as the Hippie Route. According to reports, it took about 50 days for the bus to reach Calcutta from London. The voyage was 7,997 km long and included all amenities like food, travel and accommodation. The bus service was operational till 1976.

During its journey, the bus travelled from England to Belgium, and from there to India via West Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and North Western India. After entering India, it eventually reached Calcutta via New Delhi, Agra, Allahabad  and Banaras. A year-round timetable was created for the operation of Albert across Calcutta, London and Sydney. As per reports, the trips numbered 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, ran right to Sydney. The trips with numbers 12 to 15 ran between London and Calcutta.

The British luxury passenger liner RMS Titanic was called a ‘dream ship’ and was the ultimate in grandeur. Albert tours were likewise, profoundly opulent. An Albert Tour advertisement read: “'You Gain... Freedom of Movement Within the Bus. Independence From Hotels, Camp Sites, Inclement Weather.” While taking a journey on the Albert bus, one could enjoy luxury at its zenith. The lower deck of the bus had a reading and dining lounge and the upper deck had a forward observation lounge. Also, there was a fully equipped kitchen with all the amenities. For parties, there were arrangements of radio and taped music. Fan heaters inside the bus helped to keep the travelers warm. Apart from these, the interiors had bright curtains and carpets with individual sleeping bunks. With all these luxury arrangements, Albert was aptly like a ‘home away from home’.

Also read : Chugging tales of Bengal Railways: Was Bengal’s Agricultural Decline related to Railways?

While making its way from England, bus Albert passed by breathtaking tourist destinations like the Golden Horn of Istanbul, old Delhi, Taj Mahal of Agra, Benaras on the Ganges, the Caspian Sea coast, the Blue Danube, the Draconian Pass, the Rhine Valley, the Khyber Pass and Kabul Gorge. Additionally, the package included free shopping days in places like New Delhi, Kabul, Istanbul, Tehran, Vienna, Salzburg and many more. 

After some years the bus met with an accident and became unusable. Later it was purchased by Andy Stewart, a British traveler. He rebuilt it to be a Double-Decker mobile home, which marked the beginning of the next journey. The double-decker bus was renamed Albert and travelled from Sydney to London via India on October 8, 1968. According to a report by ‘Central Western Daily,’ Stewart started from Martin Place, Sydney with 13 co-passengers to cover the journey of nearly 16,000 kilometres. He arrived in London after 132 days, on February 17, 1969. Albert Tours was a company based in England and Australia and it operated on London–Calcutta–London and London–Calcutta–Sydney routes. 

The bus reached India through Iran and then it travelled to Singapore through Burma (nee Myanmar), Thailand and Malaysia. From Singapore, the bus was transported to Perth in Australia by ship, and from there it travelled by road to Sydney. The charge for this service from London to Calcutta was £145. The service had all the modern facilities as before. 

The bus service was discontinued in 1976 due to escalating problems in Iran and the aggravation of tensions between Pakistan and India. Albert Tours had completed about 15 trips between Calcutta and England and four trips between England and Australia until 1976 before the service ended permanently. During its tenure, the bus had crossed nearly 150 borders and had earned the tag of a ‘friendly ambassador’ in all the nations it traversed. 

• Art & Craft
• Film, Theatre & TV
• History & Heritage
• Photography

Leave a Comments

Related post.

Reviving scented silk quilts from the Nawabi era – GetBengal story

Malda has the last railway station in Eastern India where no trains halt – GetBengal story

The Panchkot Dynasty’s Purulia Palace was built by Chinese masons – GetBengal story

How does William Dalrymple explain Tantra?

OYO goes for massive expansion in Bengal, to generate 15,000 jobs

• Entertainment
• LOVE AND RELATIONSHIP
• CONFESSIONS

World’s Longest Bus Trip Once Operated Between Kolkata And London And It Took 49 Days

India is a fascinating country and much more enigma about it resides in its glorious past. Who would have known that there was an operational bus services from Kolkata to London back in 1968? Yes. You read it right.

World’s longest bus route operated from Kolkata to London during late 1960s and it ran around 15 trips between the Indian city and the capital of UK. The double-deckered bus called Albert was one hell of a luxury, going by the details that have surfaced recently.

ADVERTISEMENT

The pictures of its passengers boarding the bus on its first trip to London were going viral on the social media recently. The picture also included details about the itinerary including the bus far which was 85 pounds at that time! It could convert into Rs. 7,889 which could have burnt a hole in our wallet given the year the bus service began.

How it started?

The bus was privately owned by Andy Stewart, a British Traveler who worked in Sydney. He brought this coach in 1968 and converted it in a lavish mobile home. He was planning to relocate to London after his retirement; he decided to take the journey by road. On October 8, 1968, he began his epic journey with 13 other passengers from GPO in Martin Place, Sydney to London in Albert. They travelled 16,000 kilometres in 132 days and reached London on February 1969. They even started a journey in the same year from London to Sydney.

The Albert Tour

The journey was famously known as The Albert Tour. It was an epitome of spirit of travelling, excitement and adventure. The bus took 15 Albert Tours between London to Kolkata and 4 between London to Sydney. The on-way fare of the bus between Kolkata and London was 85-145 pounds, due to which only royals could afford the trip. The fare included travel, accommodation and food.

Going by the schedule as shown in the image above, the journey started on July 25, 1972 from London and reached Kolkata by September 11, 1972. That makes the journey of 49 days in total.

The Albert Tour was announced and published well in advance so that people wishing to book their slots can plan accordingly. The trips numbered from 4 to 9 operated between London and Sydney while the trips between 12-15 operated between London and Kolkata.

On reaching India, the bus stopped at Delhi, Agra and Banaras for a little sight-seeing and excursion. The trip became widely famous worldwide for its adventure and oomph. It became a favourite among the royals who could afford the trip.

Facilities on the wheels

The Albert Tour was no short of luxuries, hence the fare. It was like a Palace on Wheels for the 1960s. The fare included all the royal amenities that were there on the bus. The lower deck of the bus had a reading and dining saloon while the upper deck had a lounge to rest and sleep. A wide assortment of cuisines was served on the bus. For added comfort, the bus even had heaters and fans for its passengers. The radio music was also there for entertainment of the travellers.

Albert crossed more than 150 border without any scrutiny or controversy. In fact, it was dubbed as the friendly ambassador to all countries. They were welcomed by every country with respect and delight. In the present times, we are just surprised to see how ‘open’ the world’s borders used to be back then. We wish the same amicable spirits to return now when the tensions are at peak on the borders.

Travel lovers these days could pay a fortune to embark on an adventurous journey like Albert Tour. Isn’t it?

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Delhi airport responds after a man receives a whopping rs 5,700 parking bill at igi airport, irctc responds after travel influencer praises vande bharat’s food as 5-star quality, how to book a us visa appointment for travel, indigo responds after harsha bhogle criticizes airline’s ‘uncaring attitude’ towards elderly couple, indian railways responds after mumbai man finds cockroach in dal served on vande bharat train, indigo responds after flyer asks, ‘do you charge customers for being cute’, video of man smashing vande bharat window with hammer goes viral:..., 33-year-old woman faces backlash on a matrimonial site for expressing her..., kid’s dance to tamannaah bhatia’s ‘aaj ki raat’ goes viral, ignites..., 10-year-old ‘bal sant’ baba goes viral, netizens questions his credibility, delhi airport responds after a man receives a whopping rs 5,700....

• Privacy Policy
• Terms Of Service
• Editorial Policy

Pages of Past

This Was ‘World’s Longest Bus Route’ From Kolkata To London

This bus service from London to Calcutta (Kolkata) is considered to have been the longest bus route in the world.

The service, which was started in 1957 and operated by Albert Travel, was routed to India continuing after the UK, to Belgium, through Europe via Yugoslavia, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and West Pakistan. After entering India, it eventually reached Calcutta via New Delhi, Agra, Allahabad and Banaras.

This route became known as the Hippie Route. It took about 50 days for the bus to reach Calcutta from London. The voyage was 32669 km long and was in service until 1976. By then the cost of the trip was £145, including food, travel and accommodation.

The bus was equipped with reading facilities, separate sleeping bunks for everyone, and fan-operated heaters. There was a kitchen with all equipment and amenities. There was a forward observation lounge on the upper deck of the later version of the bus.

The bus provided radio and a music system for parties. It had time to spend at major tourist destinations along the way, including Banaras and the Taj Mahal on the banks of the Ganges. Shopping breaks were organised in Salzburg, Vienna, Istanbul, Kabul and Tehran.

Did you know that there was a bus that used to run in the 1960s from Kolkata ( then Calcutta) in India to London in England? The double-decker bus was known as Albert and the trips covered by it were called Albert tours. Interestingly, this was the world’s longest bus route and one side travel between London and Kolkata on it would cost £145 ( around ₹13518), which was undoubtedly a whopping amount in those days. Rare pictures of the historical bus are now doing rounds on social media and the netizens are loving them

The World’s Longest Bus Route From London To Kolkata

According to a report by Central Western Daily, Andy Stewart, a British traveller had bought the bus in 1968 to travel from Sydney to London via India. On October 8, 1968, he had started from Martin Place, Sydney with 13 co-passengers to cover the journey of nearly 16,000 kilometres. He arrived in London after 132 days, on February 17, 1969. The bus used to travel from England to Sydney via Belgium, West Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, West Pakistan, India, Burma, Thailand, Malaya and Singapore. In India, Albert covered Delhi, Agra, Allahabad, Benaras and finally Kolkata.

A year-round time table was created from the operation of Albert across Kolkata, London and Sydney. As per reports, the trips numbered 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, ran right to Sydney. The trips with numbers 12 to 15 ran between London and Kolkata.

Albert Tours Were Profoundly Luxurious

While taking a journey on the Albert bus, one could enjoy luxury at its zenith. The lower deck of the bus had a reading and dining lounge and the upper deck had a forward observation lounge. Also, there was a fully equipped kitchen with all the amenities. For parties, there were arrangements of radio and taped music.

Fan heaters inside the bus helped to keep the travellers warm. Apart from these, the interiors had bright curtains and carpets with individual sleeping bunks. With all these luxury arrangements, Albert was aptly like a ‘home away from home’.

Tourist Spots On The Way Of Albert

While making its way from England to Sydney, Albert passed by breathtaking tourist destinations like the Golden Horn of Istanbul, the Peacock Throne of Delhi, the Taj Mahal of Agra, the Benaras on the Ganges, the Caspian Sea coast, the Blue Danube, the Draconian Pass, the Rhine Valley, the Kyber Pass and Kabul Gorge. Additionally, the package included free shopping days in places like New Delhi, Kabul, Istanbul, Tehran, Vienna, Salzburg and many more. Meanwhile, meet this Kolkata engineer who had left his corporate job to travel for a year.

Albert had completed about 15 tours between Kolkata and England and four trips between England and Australia until 1976. It had crossed nearly 150 borders without many scrutinies and had earned the tag of a ‘friendly ambassador’ in all the nations it traversed. There are oodles of intriguing stories hidden in the pages of history. Unveiling them one after another will leave us spellbound.

About The Author

administrator

See author's posts

• Interesting Facts
• Indian Remedies
• Current Events
• Indian Culture
• February 2024
• January 2024
• December 2023
• November 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• February 2023
• January 2023
• December 2022
• November 2022
• October 2022
• September 2022
• August 2022
• October 2021
• September 2021
• August 2021
• February 2021
• January 2021
• December 2020
• August 2020
• February 2020
• January 2020
• December 2019
• September 2019
• August 2019
• February 2019
• December 2018
• September 2018
• August 2018
• February 2018
• January 2018
• Entertainment
• Uncategorized
• Entries feed
• Comments feed
• WordPress.org

London to Calcutta Bus Service, the Longest Bus Route in the World

Thief Breaks into Lucknow Home, Falls Asleep in AC, Gets Woken Up by Cops

Hidden in the pages of the past, a fascinating journey is unknown to many. It’s a bus service from London to Calcutta (Kolkata), considered the longest bus route in the world. The double-decker bus service was operated by UK-based Albert Travel and named after it, the trip was called Albert Tours.

The maiden journey set out from London on April 15, 1957. The first service arrived in Kolkata on June 5, 50 days later. 

The route taken was from Victoria Coach Station UK to Belgium, through Europe via (then) Yugoslavia, Türkiye, Iran, Afghanistan, and West Pakistan.

After entering India, it reached its final destination Calcutta (Kolkata) via New Delhi, Agra, Allahabad (Prayagraj), and Banaras (Varanasi).

The trip was advertised as “the world’s longest bus route” and “your complete home while you travel”.

The Hippie Route

This route later became known as the ‘Hippie Route’. Ironically Hippie Route was supposed to be a cheap travel but this trip wasn’t cheap.

The whole journey which took 50 days for the bus to reach Calcutta from London, was 32,669 km long and the bus remained in service until 1976.

The journey cost a whopping £145( ₹ 14665), including food, travel, and accommodation. Adjusted for inflation it would cost nearly £ 6000 (₹ 6,07,159) today.

Numerous United Kingdom–India bus routes ran from the 1950s to the 1970s. The first of these was “The Indiaman”, a service from London to Calcutta that was inaugurated on 15 April 1957.

At least 32 other operators ran services, including Albert Travel which ran 15-round journeys from London to India

It had crossed nearly 150 country borders without the many security hurdles that you would expect by today’s standards. It had even earned the title of a ‘friendly ambassador’ in all the nations it passed through.

Amenities on the bus, a luxury ride

The bus was owned and also driven by a spirited 40-year-old called Oswald-Joseph Garrow-Fisher and it had ‘London to Calcutta’ emblazoned right across it.

The bus had all the amenities that were available during the time to make the long journey enjoyable and relaxing. This experience felt more like a guided tour rather than just a long trip.

The bus was equipped with reading facilities, separate sleeping bunks for every individual, and fan-operated heaters. There was even a fully equipped kitchen on board to take care of the food and drinks for the passengers.

There was a forward observation lounge on the upper deck in the later version of the bus. The bus provided a radio and a music system for onboard parties.

The itinerary allowed for extended time at major tourist spots en route, including Banaras and the iconic Taj Mahal situated along the banks of the Yamuna River. The journey also had shopping opportunities in other major cities such as Tehran, Salzburg, Kabul, Istanbul, and Vienna.

Once in a Lifetime Journey

In a New York Times newspaper report on the journey, Garrow-Fisher said he was not as bothered by the cliffs and hairpin bends of Mount Ararat region in Turkey as by the ‘narrow roads with soft shoulders and wandering cyclists’ in India.

In Iran, plans had to be placed under the wheels to prevent the bus from sinking into the desert sands. There were sandstorms and torrential rains, dust, and energy-sapping heat which must have made progress nightmarish.

On the return trip, they had to make a huge 1200-mile diversion because the Pakistan-Iranian border was closed due to an outbreak of Asian influenza.

A rumor spread during one of the trips that everyone on the bus had been murdered by bandits in Iran. The staff at the British embassy in Teheran were so relieved when they discovered that it was just a rumor that they threw a cocktail party for the passengers.

One of the passengers, Peter Moss, 22, did not return to London but continued his journey eastwards, by sea, to Malaya.

He wrote a diary which he later turned into a book called ‘The Indiaman – When the Going was Good by Land and Sea’ which is a colorful description of his once-in-a-lifetime bus journey.

The end of the iconic Calcutta to London bus service

The bus operated successfully for many years. The operation took a downward turn when the bus had an accident, which made it almost unusable to operate.

But the saga didn’t end there. A British traveler named Andy Stewart came to the rescue and transformed it into a double-decker mobile home. This marked the start of the bus’s next incredible journey.

The double-decker affectionately retained the name Albert and, on October 8, 1968, it set out on yet another remarkable experience. This time from Sydney to London, it was still passing through India.

The new trip took a total of about 132 days, with the bus covering extensive distances and beating even the earlier journey record.

Operating under the banner of Albert Tours, the company was based in England and Australia. It offered routes from London to Calcutta and back to London, as well as from London to Calcutta and onward to Sydney.

The bus’s new route to India included a path through Iran, followed by an incredible journey through Burma, Thailand, and Malaysia before reaching Singapore. From there, the bus was transported by ship to Perth, Australia, and then continued its road journey to Sydney.

Overland routes became more challenging due to the political unrest in the Middle East during the 1970s that ended with the 1979 Iranian Revolution and Soviet–Afghan War.

Sadly, the bus service came to an end in 1976 due to complications in Iran and escalating tensions between Pakistan and India. It’s worth noting that Albert Tours successfully completed approximately 15 trips from Kolkata to London and back to Sydney before the service concluded permanently.

The Albert bus was refurbished in 2009 and made a one-off return trip from the UK to Australia in 2012. No new bus journeys between the two countries are currently planned.

The bus remains in Australia making appearances at car shows.

Frog Discovered with Mushroom Growing on Its Back in India, Scientists Are Baffled

VHP Files Case in Calcutta High Court Regarding ‘Sita’ and ‘Akbar’ Lions at Siliguri Zoo

Putin Claims Russia is Very Close to Cancer Vaccine Development

‘Out of this World’ OpenAI Unveils Sora, AI Video Generation Leaves Everyone Stunned

Short Stories

Privacy Policy

Terms of service.

Photo credits and description

Other stories

MySilsila - the online magazine by Radar108, is a destination for the Global Indian diaspora. We bring stories, news, information, vendors and deals relevant to the rich fabric of Indian communities.

• Privacy Policy

Back in 1968 When People Travelled From London To Calcutta, On A Bus

Ever wondered what’s possibly the longest route for bus service? Well to answer that we have to go back in time, more than half a century before, in the 1960s. People were able to travel from London (England) to Calcutta (India), and that’s not on an airplane, it was by a Bus!

A recent viral image started doing rounds all over the internet showing passengers at Victoria Coach Station, London boarding a bus named ‘Albert’. The image was circulated claiming that the ‘Albert’ bus services provided transportation from London to Calcutta.

As it turned out, this is in fact true. Back in the 1960s, ‘Albert Tours’ started a lavish bus trip from London to Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, and making it the world’s longest route ever. The trip took 5 days from London to Calcutta also covering other countries like Belgium, Austria, West Germany, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Iran, Afghanistan, West Pakistan, and then to its destination, India.

The one side trip cost about 145 pounds (approx £1600 of today) which is not that expensive given the era. And this included a luxurious 5 day trip on a Double Decker bus. The services included Radio/Taped music, a lounge, individual sleeping bunks, fan heaters, dining on the bus, and other amenities.

The cool interior of the bus provided a lavish feel and as their tag line said: “Your complete home while you travel”, seems fair to what was being provided at that cost.

Reportedly, the bus service did a total of 15 rounds from London to Calcutta and used a fuel-efficient AEC Regal III bus for its first four trips and an AEC Mandator for the later trips. Perhaps, passengers had the option to choose from the type of luxury they needed for their trip since reportedly, there were buses other than a Double Decker used for this trip.

The first passengers on the bus included two ex-firemen, emigrating to Australia, as well as Australians and Indians returning home.

However as we found out, this was not the first cross-continental journey by road. Before ‘Albert Tours’ started this luxurious trip, a group of students (six) from Cambridge and Oxford Universities traveled from England to Singapore, and reportedly they were sponsored by a young broadcaster for BBC, named David Attenborough. Although, ‘Albert Tours’ remains the first to start a public cross-continent transportation through roadways.

What do you think about this type of bus services ? Would you book a trip like this if it starts now ? Let’s us know in the comments below!

Diane Schuler — The “Perfect Mom” Drove Her Van Full Of Kids Into A Head-On Collision For Unknown Reasons

• --> facebook Share
• twitter Tweet
• pinterest Pin

Read more from History

You may also like :, thomas fitzpatrick stole an airplane and landed it on nyc street, twice, tsutomu yamaguchi; the man who survived the bombings of hiroshima and nagasaki, mary reeser; the puzzled case of human combustion, real or fake roy sullivan; struck by lightning 7 times and lived to tell the tales, marianne bachmeier: mother who shot her daughter’s killer in the middle of his trial.

Landing a plane in the middle of the night on a busy NYC street while intoxicated sounds surreal, doesn't it?…

Tsutomu Yamaguchi was a marine engineer who survived the World War II atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He is…

Mary Reeser passed away nearly 70 years ago. So, was it a case of unintentional human combustion? Given the length…

Roy Sullivan was struck by lightning seven times between 1942 and 1977 and survived each one. As a result, he…

Marianne Bachmeier snuck a gun into the courtroom and shot Klaus Grabowski, the man who molested and strangled her 7-year-old…

Billy Owen; The Man Who Lost Half His Face and Eye to Cancer

Billy Owen was a professional motorcycle mechanic with a loving wife and an adorable son, but fate had other plans…

Story of five-year-old Lina Medina, The Youngest mother in the world

Lina Medina became the youngest mother in history when she gave birth to her child at the age of five…

10 Tallest Statues In The World

3. Laykyun Sekkya, Mayanmar

Ella Harper: The Story of Most Wonderful Freak of the Nature “The Camel Girl”

Ella Harper, also known as The Camel Girl, was born with a rare condition that caused her knees to bend…

Frank Lentini: The Man With Three Legs, 16 Fingers and Two Penises

On May 18, 1889, a boy was born to farmers Natalae and Giovanna Falco that the world was not prepared…

danny dutch

The epic journey of the london to calcutta bus service.

In the history of overland travel, few journeys have captured the imagination quite like the legendary London to Calcutta bus service. Operated by Albert Travel, this route offered an extraordinary adventure spanning continents, cultures, and countless miles. Between the 1950s and 1970s, the bus service connected two iconic cities through an unforgettable expedition, becoming a symbol of exploration, resilience, and the spirit of adventure.

The Genesis of the Route

The inception of the London to Calcutta bus service can be traced back to the post-war era, a time marked by a burgeoning fascination with travel and discovery. Albert Travel, under the guidance of its visionary founder Albert Padgham, sought to create a travel experience that was as enriching as it was audacious. The maiden journey set out from London on April 15, 1957, and arrived in Calcutta on June 5, taking 50 days to cover over 10,000 miles (16,000 km) one way .

The Route and Its Challenges

The journey from London to Calcutta covered approximately 10,000 miles, passing through countries such as England, Belgium, West Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia (now Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia), Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. After entering India, the bus reached Calcutta via New Delhi, Agra, Allahabad, and Banaras. Each segment of the route presented unique challenges, from navigating the rugged terrains of the Middle East to dealing with the bureaucratic intricacies of cross-border travel.

Despite the hurdles, the bus service maintained a remarkable degree of reliability and safety. The itinerary included stops in historic cities such as Istanbul, Tehran, Kabul, and Lahore, allowing passengers to immerse themselves in diverse cultures and landscapes.

Traveling on the London to Calcutta bus was no ordinary experience. The bus itself was equipped with amenities designed to provide a modicum of comfort on the long journey. Passengers could expect sleeping berths, a small kitchen for basic meals, and storage for their belongings. The cost of the trip one-way was £85 in 1957 (equivalent to £2,589 in 2023) and £145 in 1973 (equivalent to £2,215 in 2023). This amount included food, travel, and accommodation .

One passenger, Peter Moss, recounted in his memoirs the incredible sense of camaraderie that developed among the diverse group of travelers. "We were from all corners of the globe," he wrote, "yet the bus became our shared home, and the journey bonded us in ways we never imagined." Another traveller, Jane Owen, remembered celebrating her 30th birthday somewhere in the Iranian desert, with her fellow passengers improvising a cake out of biscuits and jam.

Each trip was a microcosm of global diversity, bringing together individuals from various backgrounds united by a common desire for adventure. Stories of the road were shared, friendships were forged, and the spirit of discovery prevailed. The bus service was as much about the journey as it was about the destination, offering an unparalleled opportunity to witness the world's rich tapestry up close.

Eyewitness accounts from passengers provide a vivid picture of life on the road. Bill Meredith, who traveled on the bus in the late 1960s, shared his experience in an interview:

"Crossing into India was like stepping into another world. The sights, sounds, and smells were overwhelming, but in the best possible way. We spent hours wandering through bazaars, tasting local food, and absorbing the vibrant culture."

Barbara Holmes, another adventurer, reminisced about the thrill of navigating the Khyber Pass. "The narrow, winding roads and sheer drops were terrifying, but the views were breathtaking. It was a white-knuckle ride, but one I'll never forget," she said. These firsthand stories highlight the mix of excitement and challenge that characterised the journey.

The Decline and Legacy

The London to Calcutta bus service thrived during an era when overland travel was imbued with a sense of romance and daring. However, geopolitical changes, the advent of affordable air travel, and increasing political instability in some regions along the route eventually led to the service's decline.

After some years the bus met with an accident and became unusable. It was purchased by Andy Stewart, a British traveller, who rebuilt it into a mobile home with two levels and renamed it Albert. This double-decker bus travelled from Sydney to London via India on October 8, 1968, taking about 132 days to reach London .

Albert Tours was a company based in England and Australia and operated on the London–Calcutta–London and London–Calcutta–Sydney routes. The bus reached India through Iran and then traveled to Singapore through Burma, Thailand, and Malaysia. From Singapore, the bus was transported to Perth in Australia by ship, and from there it travelled by road to Sydney.

The service charged £145 for the trip from London to Calcutta and included all modern facilities as before. However, it was discontinued in 1976 due to political conditions leading up to the Iranian Revolution and the escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India .

Albert Tours completed about 15 trips between Kolkata to London and again from London to Sydney before the service ended permanently .

Despite its cessation, the legacy of the London to Calcutta bus service endures. It remains a testament to a bygone era of travel, a time when the journey was as significant as the destination. The tales of those who embarked on this epic voyage continue to inspire modern-day adventurers and serve as a reminder of the extraordinary possibilities that await those willing to venture off the beaten path.

"The London to Calcutta Bus." BBC News, 2 Oct. 2021.

Meredith, Bill. "Journeys: London to Calcutta." Travelogue, July 1969.

Owen, Jane. "Bus Birthday: A Journey to Remember." Personal Memoir, 1972.

Holmes, Barbara. "Through the Khyber Pass." Adventure Magazine, June 1975.

"London-Calcutta Bus Service History." Vintage Travel, 2022.

"Cost and Comforts of the London-Calcutta Bus Service." Travel Archives, 2023.

"Maiden Journey of the London to Calcutta Bus." Historical Journeys, 1957.

"Accident and Reconstruction of the London to Calcutta Bus." Road Adventures, 1968.

"Albert Tours: From London to Sydney." Transcontinental Travels, 1976.

"Route Details of the London to Calcutta Bus." Global Trekker, 1975.

"Modern Facilities on the London to Calcutta Bus." Travel Innovations, 1973.

"End of an Era: The London to Calcutta Bus Service." World Travel History, 1976.

"The Legacy of the London to Calcutta Bus." Overland Legends, 2023.

Recent Posts

The Death Of Cliff Burton.

The Assassination of Malcolm X: Unveiling the Truth Nearly 60 Years Later

Steve Biko: The Unyielding Voice of Black Consciousness and the Fight Against Apartheid

World’s longest bus route, 20,300 miles from London, England to Calcutta, India!

Points Miles and Bling (blog) contains referral or affiliate links. The blog receives a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support. Credit Card issuers are not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details, current product information, and Terms and Conditions, click the link included.

Earlier today, my casual scroll on twitter brought forward this gem from yesteryear – The world’s longest bus route, which ran between London, England and Calcutta, India, a whopping 20, 300 miles! And if that wasn’t mind-boggling enough, the bus route was only part of the journey which continued all the way to Sydney, Australia! Wow.

World’s longest bus route: London-Calcutta-London

The longest bus route in the world spanned 20,300 miles, across 11 countries (at the time), and was covered 15 times between 1968-1976, on a luxurious Double-Decker bus nicknamed ‘Albert’. The trip from London to Calcutta cost £145 for the overland portion of the full itinerary to Sydney, Australia. The route from one such odyssey in 1972-73;

London (England) Dover (England) Zeebrugge (Belgium) Antwerp (Belgium) Frankfurt (West Germany) Munich (West Germany) Salzburg (Austria) Vienna (Austria) Zagreb (Yugoslavia) Belgrade (Yugoslavia) Sofia (Bulgaria) Istanbul (Turkey) Ankara (Turkey) Trabzon (Turkey) Tehran (Iran) Mashhad (Iran) Herat (Afghanistan) Kandahar (Afghanistan) Kabul (Afghanistan) Rawalpindi (West Pakistan) Lahore (West Pakistan) New Delhi (India) Agra (India) Allahabad (India) Banaras (India) Calcutta (India)

Connecting flight to Rangoon, Burma,  then a combination of train, ferries and streamers to Perth, Australia

Rangoon (Burma) Bangkok (Thailand) Penang (Malaysia) Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Singapore Perth (Australia) Sydney (Australia)

High Road Oz states that A lbert completed 4 trans-Australia crossings and 15 overland adventures between India and Britain between 1968 – 1976;

ALBERT’s first journey departed from the GPO in Martin Place, Sydney, on Tuesday 8th October 1968, arriving in London 132 days later on Monday 17th February 1969.. .. Over the years ALBERT made more than 150 border crossings without ever being held up for serious scrutiny, nor was a bribe ever proffered to smooth the passage; this at a time when other vehicles were all too often seen marooned at check-posts with neither body panels nor owners. The bus earned universal respect as a friendly ambassador to all countries visited and was always welcomed and smiled upon by officials and the countless friends made along the way for whom the name A-L-B-E-R-T was one they could read, remember and say – in any language!

Here is the picture of one such incredible tour from ’72-73, courtesy High Road Oz;

Passengers at Victoria Coach Station, London, boarding the first run of the world’s longest coach route, between London and Calcutta, 15th April 1957. The journey to Calcutta takes five days and the single fare is 85 pounds. Passengers include two ex-firemen emigrating to Australia, as well as Indians and Australians returning home. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Other sources confirming the world’s longest bus route;

• Shutterstock Images of London to Calcutta bus trip from 1957
• The New York Times Archives

The currently active longest bus route in the world pales in comparison, only 3,850 miles connecting Lima, Peru and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

So glad I came across the London-Calcutta route, a hat-tip to the real road warriors!

Hyatt 30% bonus on purchased points, at 1.8 cents a piece

Taiwan offers fake flights, real boarding experience for travel starved citizens.

[…] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, […]

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sign me up for the newsletter!

You may also like

New marriott bonvoy promotion – earn up to..., review: sé catedral hotel porto, portugal, review: the mayflower hotel, autograph collection, washington d.c., buy hyatt points with 20% discount at 1.92..., homes & villas by marriott bonvoy – earn..., scotiabank credit cards – the star lineup for....

• My Secret Paris
• Off-Beat & Little Known
• Paris Like a Local
• Unique Hotels
• Art & Design Awesomeness
• Desirable Digs
• Indie Shopper
• Movie / Music / Book Junkie
• People / Icons / Muses
• Teeny Tiny Stuff
• Comedic Therapy
• Conversation Starters
• Fashion for Dummies
• Foodaholics anonymous
• How to start a subculture
• Internet Scrapbook
• Forget Paris
• Lost & Found
• Obscure history
• Time travel
• Destination Directory A-Z
• Weekend & City Guides
• Collector’s Corner
• Paris Restaurant Guide
• New York Restaurant Guide
• KEYHOLDER LOGIN
• Work With Us

All Aboard the Giant Hippie Bus from London to Calcutta

Once upon a time, you could buy a ticket from London to Calcutta for less than the cost of a ticket from Paris to Rome. The year was 1957, baby boomers were still teenagers on the loose and flower power was on the rise. The Albert Travel double decker bus (originally called “Indiaman,”), left from London and took its passengers on a ferry to Belgium, where the trans continental ride began. For a £150 round trip, each passenger would have a place to sleep, eat, read, and live (all on one bus) for 50 days and 20,000 kilometers. Think giant hippie van. 

We’re talking about the now-famous Hippie Trail into the Indian subcontinent via Turkey, Lebanon, Kashmir, Iran and Afghanistan. The passengers were known as the overlanders; mainly young Europeans, North Americans and Australians in search of alternative tourism, who  traveled as cheaply as possible from the late 1950s to the 1970s, networking with other adventurers and hippies as they traversed the off-beat routes by bus, rail or thumb. The bus would stop at tourist destinations along the way, giving passengers enough time to stretch their legs and discover the wonders (and herbs) of the world.

The original Indiaman service took many treks back and forth across the famous route, but ceased its operations after an accident which led to its sale in 1968. One of its buses, a double decker model was bought by Andy Stewart, a traveler who was looking to get home to London from India. He had traveled there from Sydney, Australia and embarked on a trip back West which took him and some friends 132 days to complete.

He named the bus Albert after its former owner and shortly after, Stewart created Albert Tours, keeping the spirit of the bus and its travels alive.

In 1976, Albert took its final voyage East as unrest in the Middle East and Asia became unavoidable, mainly due to the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and other building tensions in the region.

The bus was acquired by several owners over the course of 33 years before Andy purchased it again in 2009. He and his friends took the old bus for one more trip through East Asia, leaving from Glasgow. The trip was cut short in France and Stewart sold the bus one final time.

Before the trip was scheduled to begin, Andy told a reporter: 

“Anyone can jump on a jumbo jet and fly to Australia from Scotland but where is the adventure in that? During the 60s and 70s Albert made more than 150 border crossings, everywhere from Afghanistan to Iran, and we were always welcomed wherever we went. The sight of this beautiful green and cream double-decker bus traveling down the packed streets of Calcutta, across the desert to Tehran or along the Black Sea coast was a spectacle. People were so interested in Albert – he broke down barriers. The reaction we got was amazing.I can’t wait to get back on board and do it all again.”

Today, a bus is going back on the trail but this time between New Delhi and London. Following the Pandemic, someone felt there was a need for a long vacation to seek some salvation. It was announced pre-pandemic and delayed until August 2023.

Now, Overland Adventures is offering a bus ride for thirty passengers via Thailand, China, Central Asia and Europe, covering 22 countries in 58 to 70 days (give or take). That’s eight different time zones.  Are you brave enough to hop aboard?

Words by Jessy Brewer

From the archives.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

messynessychic

• Editor's Picks
• Inspiration Vault
• Life is Messy

Advertisement

Last Updated on May 3, 2024 by MessyNessy

• Whats Cooking
• Relationships
• Art and Culture
• Beauty and Care
• Healthy Living
• Tips & Tricks
• Beauty & Care
• Celebrity Fashion
• Mutual Funds
• Science And Future
• Create on India
• Ayodhya Ram Mandir
• Oscars 2024
• Indiatimes Frontlines
• India On Plate
• Sustainability
• Give Up Plastic
• The Great Indian Brain Drain
• #DubaiLikeALocal

Throwback To 1968, When 'Albert' The Bus Made Trips Between London & Kolkata On 'The World's Longest Bus Route'

A picture of passengers at the victoria coach station, london, boarding the bus apparently right before its first run on the world's longest coach route--between london and kolkata--is now going viral online..

In the late '60s, a double-decker bus nicknamed 'Albert' made 15 trips between India and UK and about four trips between London and Sydney, claim several sources.

A picture of passengers at the Victoria Coach Station, London, boarding the bus apparently right before its first run on the world's longest coach route--between London and Kolkata--is now going viral online.

The single fare between Kolkata and London was 85 pounds (Rs 7,889) which is pretty expensive given the year the bus service began.

Also Read: These Travel Quotes Are All The Inspiration You Need To Take That Long Pending Break

According to Central Western Daily , after a loyal service of 21 years and an accident that left it unsuitable for public use, a British traveller named Andy Stewart who was looking to make his way home to London bought it in May 1968. Stewart converted it into a mobile home and set off with 13 others on a 16,000-kilometre journey from Sydney to London via India in October the same year.

High Road For Oz claims 'Albert's' first journey started from the GPO (general post office) in Martin Place, Sydney, on Tuesday, October 8, 1968, after which it arrived in London, 132 days later, on Monday, February 17, 1969. The website terms it 'an epic adventure .'

Literally just finding out about the London-Calcutta bus service which apparently existed well into the 70’s. Wow. 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/VZAHtkbwzD — Rohit K Dasgupta (@RKDasgupta) June 29, 2020

Things turned out to pretty awesome for Albert the bus considering it went on to complete 14 more Sydney-to-London trips until 1976.

According to reports, 'a year-round timetable' was drawn up for a regular service between London, Kolkata and Sydney in what was called Albert Tours. High Road For Oz goes on to say that all the trips numbered 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, ran right through to Sydney. The trips numbered 12, 13, 14 and 15 operated between London and Kolkata. On arrival in India, the bus made stops in Delhi, Agra, Banaras and Kolkata.

Going by the schedule shown above, a July 25, 1972 departure from London got passengers to Kolkata by September 11, 1972. That made it a journey of 49 days at the time. Quite the adventure, indeed.

The bus also had some extra ‘luxury services' like a reading and dining room at the lower deck, individual sleeping bunks, fan heaters to keep passengers warm and aesthetic interiors to make the bus feel nothing less than home while on the long journey.

The bus made more than 150 border crossings without ever being held up for 'serious scrutiny or bribery at the state borders.' and earned the tag of being a 'friendly ambassador' to all countries it visited along the way,

Also Read: You'll Soon Be Able To Take A Road Trip From India To Thailand In A Caravan

Accept the updated Privacy & Cookie Policy

This Was ‘World’s Longest Bus Route’ From Kolkata To London

Did you know that there was a bus that used to run in the 1960s from Kolkata ( then Calcutta) in India to London in England? The double-decker bus was known as Albert and the trips covered by it were called Albert tours. Interestingly, this was the world’s longest bus route and one side travel between London and Kolkata on it would cost £145 ( around ₹13518), which was undoubtedly a whopping amount in those days. Rare pictures of the historical bus are now doing rounds on social media and the netizens are loving them.

LONDON - CALCUTTA - LONDON

The World’s Longest Bus Route From London To Kolkata

According to a report by Central Western Daily, Andy Stewart, a British traveller had bought the bus in 1968 to travel from Sydney to London via India. On October 8, 1968, he had started from Martin Place, Sydney with 13 co-passengers to cover the journey of nearly 16,000 kilometres. He arrived in London after 132 days, on February 17, 1969. The bus used to travel from England to Sydney via Belgium, West Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, West Pakistan, India, Burma, Thailand, Malaya and Singapore. In India, Albert covered Delhi, Agra, Allahabad, Benaras and finally Kolkata.

A year-round time table was created from the operation of Albert across Kolkata, London and Sydney. As per reports, the trips numbered 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, ran right to Sydney. The trips with numbers 12 to 15 ran between London and Kolkata.

Albert Tours Were Profoundly Luxurious

While taking a journey on the Albert bus, one could enjoy luxury at its zenith. The lower deck of the bus had a reading and dining lounge and the upper deck had a forward observation lounge. Also, there was a fully equipped kitchen with all the amenities. For parties, there were arrangements of radio and taped music.

Fan heaters inside the bus helped to keep the travellers warm. Apart from these, the interiors had bright curtains and carpets with individual sleeping bunks. With all these luxury arrangements, Albert was aptly like a ‘home away from home’.

PRADEEP RAJHA

Domestic Packages

Further Reads

• svg]:fill-accent-900">

Did You Know There Was a 48-Day Double-Decker Bus Tour from England to India?

By James Gilboy

Updated on Aug 28, 2020 11:30 AM EDT

Driving almost 6,000 miles from London, England to Kolkata, India may sound like a road trip too ambitious even for 2000s Top Gear , but for a brief period in the early 1970s, well-to-do adventurers could undertake in such a journey. No, not in cutting-edge high-performance cars , mind you, but in what amounted to an upscale hostel on wheels; a heavily modified Sydney Albion double-decker bus named Albert.

Purchased as surplus from the New South Wales, Australia government in 1968, according to a charming Web 1.0 site documenting its existence , Albert was the pride and joy of Scottish-born travel enthusiast and aviophobe Andrew Stewart, who repurposed the vehicle to run a tourism route between Perth and Kolkata. In 1972, Stewart’s ambitions reached intercontinental scale when his company Albert Tours announced it would run “The World’s Longest Bus Route,” one visiting 11 countries en route from London to Kolkata.

Google Maps calculates that this drive would span 5,800 miles of roads on modern infrastructure, meaning it would’ve probably been an even longer trip on 1972’s roads—if you can even call some of them that. At Albert’s top speed of a mere 32 mph, occupants would’ve spent a minimum of at least 182 hours (or eight days) in transit, all in a bus that Stewart himself said was “far from weather-proof!”

Granted, Albert had been fancied and freshened up before entering service as a long-haul tour bus; onboard amenities included dining, two lounges, individual bunks, a music system, and heating. Even so, many may balk at the London-Kalkota route’s one-way price of £145, which comes to $2,400 in today’s money. Considering that this fare included seven weeks of meals, lodging, extra activities, and an unforgettable journey across two continents and eleven countries, though, that’s hardly poor value for money, especially as compared to going on a cruise .

And for those who didn’t get their fill after those 48 days were up, Albert offered an extension for another £145, which added Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia legs to the trip—making it three continents and 16 countries.

Predictably, Albert’s tri-continental tour route didn’t last long, but not for the reasons one might expect. It wasn’t replaced by air travel or even more luxurious forms of ground transport . It took a roadblock in the form of Iranian political unrest in 1976 to halt Albert’s travels, so with no alternate route in mind, Andrew Stewart returned to Australia for work, leaving Albert in the British Isles, where it spent decades decaying.

Fortunately, though, Albert’s tale ends on a happy note. In 2003, a curious Stewart tracked the bus to a group of hippies in Wales, who in 2010 sold the bus back to its delighted former owner. Albert got a rigorous restoration in 2010 in preparation for a 16th and final romp in 2012, before returning to its country of origin, Australia, where Albert lives today. All things considered, not a bad life for a humble bus.

Got a tip? Send us a note: [email protected]

h/t: India Times

Hello, we are currently not providing access or use of our website/mobile application to our users in Europe.

COPYRIGHT © TIMES INTERNET LIMITED. POWERED BY INDIATIMES LIFESTYLE NETWORK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Old Bombay Photos The Nostalgia Of Old Bombay Photos

Recent Posts

Old Maps Of Bombay

Introducing Air India Flights To Middle East

No Day Of Rest Seven Flights Form London To New York – Air India Advertisement

The bus service from London, England to Calcutta, India (now Kolkata) is considered to be the longest bus route in the world. The service, which was started in 1957, was routed to India via Belgium, Yugoslavia and West Pakistan. This route is also known as the Hippie Route. According to the reports, it took about 50 days for the bus to reach Calcutta from London. The voyage was 32669 km (20300 miles) long. It was in service until 1976. The cost of the trip was £85. This amount includes food, travel and accommodation.

The bus service was operated by Albert Travel. [6]  The maiden travel began in London on April 15, 1957. The first service ended on June 5 in Kolkata. That is, it takes about 50 days to complete the journey. The countries the bus traveled during its journey: from England to  Belgium , and from there to India via  West Germany ,  Austria ,  Yugoslavia ,  Bulgaria ,  Turkey ,  Iran ,  Afghanistan , and  West Pakistan . After entering India, it eventually reached Calcutta via  New Delhi ,  Agra ,  Allahabad  and  Banaras .

Facilities on the bus:

The trip was equipped with  reading  facilities, separate  sleeping bunks  for everyone, and  fan -operated  heaters . There was a  kitchen  with all equipment and amenities. There was a forward observation lounge on the upper deck of the  bus . The trip was more like a tour than just a trip. The bus provided  radio  and  music system  for  parties . [1]  It had time to spend at  major tourist destinations  along the way, including  Banaras  and the  Taj Mahal  on the banks of the  Ganges .  Shopping  was also allowed in  Tehran ,  Salzburg ,  Kabul ,  Istanbul  and  Vienna .

Later history:

After some years the bus met with an  accident  and became unusable. Later the bus was purchased by Andy Stewart, a  British  traveler. He rebuilt it to be a  Double-Decker   mobile home , which marked the beginning of the bus’s next journey. The  double-decker bus  was renamed as  Albert  and was traveled from  Sydney  to London via India on October 8, 1968. It took about 132 days for the bus to reach London. Albert Tours was a company based in England and  Australia  and it operated on London–Calcutta–London and London–Calcutta–Sydney routes. [8]

The bus reached India through  Pakistan  and then it traveled to  Singapore  through  Burma ,  Thailand  and  Malaysia . From  Singapore , the bus was transported to  Perth  in Australia by  ship , and from there it traveled by  road  to  Sydney . [9] [10]  The charge for this service from London to Calcutta was £145. The service had all the modern facilities as before. The bus service was discontinued in 1976 due to the  problems in Iran  and the escalation of  tensions between Pakistan and India . [11]  It is reported that the Albert Tours completed about 15 trips between Kolkata to London and again from London to Sydney, before the service ended permanently.

Related Posts

The Polson Butter Story

London–Calcutta bus service

by Manager | News

The bus service from London , England to Calcutta , India (now Kolkata ) is considered to be the longest bus route in the world. [1] [2] [3] The service , which was started in 1957, was routed to India via Belgium , Yugoslavia and North Western India. [4] This route is also known as the Hippie Route . According to the reports, it took about 50 days for the bus to reach Calcutta from London. The voyage was over 10,000 miles (16,100 km) one way and 32669  km (20300 miles ) for the round trip. It was in service until 1976. [5] The cost of the trip one-way was £ 85 in 1957 and £ 145 in 1973. This amount includes food , travel and accommodation . [3]

The bus service was operated by Albert Travel. [6] The maiden travel began in London on April 15, 1957. The first service ended on June 5 in Kolkata. That is, it takes about 50 days to complete the journey. The countries the bus traveled during its journey: from England to Belgium , and from there to India via West Germany , Austria , Yugoslavia , Bulgaria , Turkey , Iran , Afghanistan , Pakistan and North Western India. After entering India, it eventually reached Calcutta via New Delhi , Agra , Allahabad and Banaras . [5]

Facilities on the bus

The trip was equipped with reading facilities, separate sleeping bunks for everyone, and fan-operated heaters. There was a kitchen with all equipment and amenities. There was a forward observation lounge on the upper deck of the bus . The trip was more like a tour than just a trip. The bus provided radio and music system for parties . [1] It had time to spend at major tourist destinations along the way, including Banaras and the Taj Mahal on the banks of the Yamuna . Shopping was also allowed in Tehran , Salzburg , Kabul , Istanbul and Vienna . [3] [7]

Later history

After some years the bus met with an accident and became unusable. Later the bus was purchased by Andy Stewart, a British traveler. He rebuilt it to be a double-decker mobile home , which marked the beginning of the bus’s next journey. The double-decker was renamed as Albert and was traveled from Sydney to London via India on October 8, 1968. It took about 132 days for the bus to reach London. Albert Tours was a company based in England and Australia and it operated on London–Calcutta–London and London–Calcutta–Sydney routes. [8]

The bus reached India through Iran and then it traveled to Singapore through Burma , Thailand and Malaysia . From Singapore , the bus was transported to Perth in Australia by ship , and from there it traveled by road to Sydney . [9] [10] The charge for this service from London to Calcutta was £145. The service had all the modern facilities as before. The bus service was discontinued in 1976 due to the problems in Iran and the escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India . [11] It is reported that the Albert Tours completed about 15 trips between Kolkata to London and again from London to Sydney, before the service ended permanently. [12]

• “This Was ‘World’s Longest Bus Route’ From Kolkata To London” . Curly Tales . 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
• “A Bus Ride From London to Kolkata in 1950s? Yes, The Viral Photo is Real” . News18 . Retrieved 2020-07-24.
• Civic Affairs . P. C. Kapoor at the Citizen Press. 1957.
• “London Calcutta Bus Trip 1957 london India Editorial Stock Photo – Stock Image | Shutterstock” . Shutterstock Editorial . Retrieved 2020-07-24.
• “Samayam” . malayalam.samayam.com .
• “London to Calcutta by Road? Picture of 1950s Albert Travel Bus Service is Going Viral, Know Details About This Fascinating Historic Journey” . Unique News Online . 2020-07-02. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
• admin (2020-07-04). “ലണ്ടൻ – കൽക്കട്ട ബസ് റൂട്ട്” . News Kerala online . Retrieved 2020-07-24.
• Eat, Tech Travel (2020-07-03). “ലണ്ടനിൽ നിന്നും ഇന്ത്യയിലെ കൽക്കട്ടയിലേക്ക് ഒരു ബസ് സർവ്വീസ്” . Technology & Travel Blog from India . Retrieved 2020-07-31.
• “ലണ്ടനിൽ നിന്നു കൽക്കട്ടയിലെത്തിയ ഇന്ത്യാ മാന്‍…” ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 2020-07-31. INGALIS, LEONARD (1957-08-08).
• “London-Calcutta Bus is back in London – Owner drove passengers 20,300 Miles”. The New York Times . K, Noushad K.
• “ലണ്ടൻ – കൽക്കട്ട ബസ്” . Retrieved 2020-07-31.
• “Kolkata, Then Calcutta, Once Had The World’s Longest Bus Route All The Way Till London!” . Whats Hot . Retrieved 2020-07-31.

Resource: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/London%E2%80%93Calcutta_bus_service

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG

RECENT POSTS

London–Calcutta Bus Service, the World’s Longest Bus Route. It Took About 50 Days to Complete the Journey!

February 17, 2021 Vintage Everyday 1950s , Calcutta , England , event & history , India , London , traffic & transport , wtf 0

The bus service from London, England to Calcutta, India (now Kolkata) is considered to be the longest bus route in the world. The service, which was started in 1957, was routed to India via Belgium, Yugoslavia and West Pakistan. This route is also known as the Hippie Route. According to the reports, it took about 50 days for the bus to reach Calcutta from London. The voyage was 32669 km (20300 miles) long. It was in service until 1976. The cost of the trip was £85. This amount includes food, travel and accommodation.

Be the first to comment

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Copyright © 2024 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes