2402:3A80:118B:4C28:0:0:12B1:9BD9: /* Later history */

2021-08-19T04:09:37Z

Later history

New page

{{see also|United Kingdom–India bus routes}}
{{short description|Bus services}}
The bus service from [[London]], [[England]] to [[Calcutta]], [[India]] (now [[Kolkata]]) is considered to be the longest [[bus route]] in the world.<ref name = curly>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-06|title=This Was 'World's Longest Bus Route' From Kolkata To London|url=https://curlytales.com/this-was-the-worlds-longest-bus-route-from-kolkata-to-london/|access-date=2020-07-24|website=Curly Tales|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=A Bus Ride From London to Kolkata in 1950s? Yes, The Viral Photo is Real|url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/a-bus-ride-from-london-to-kolkata-in-1950s-yes-the-viral-photo-is-real-2696673.html|access-date=2020-07-24|website=News18}}</ref><ref name = bus>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x_wmAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA4-PA86|title=Civic Affairs|date=1957|publisher=P. C. Kapoor at the Citizen Press|language=en}}</ref> The [[bus service|service]], which was started in 1957, was routed to India via [[Belgium]], [[Yugoslavia]] and North Western India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=London Calcutta Bus Trip 1957 london India Editorial Stock Photo - Stock Image {{!}} Shutterstock|url=https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/london-to-calcutta-bus-trip-1957-london-to-india-by-bus-the-coach-full-of-20-british-stop-for-a-picnic-by-the-river-in-yugoslavia-during-their-trip-1460231a|access-date=2020-07-24|website=Shutterstock Editorial|language=en}}</ref> This route is also known as the [[Hippie Trail|Hippie Route]]. According to the reports, it took about 50 days for the bus to reach Calcutta from London. The voyage was 32669 [[kilometre|km]] (20300 [[miles]]) long{{Dubious|Route length|date=July 2021}}. It was in service until 1976.<ref name=samayam>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Samayam|url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/viral-news/omg/did-you-know-there-was-london-calcutta-bus-service-till-the-end-of-1970/articleshow/76747839.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=malayalam.samayam.com}}</ref> The cost of the trip was [[British Pound|£]]85. This amount includes [[food]], [[travel]] and [[Lodging|accommodation]].<ref name = bus/>

==Route==
The bus service was operated by Albert Travel.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-02|title=London to Calcutta by Road? Picture of 1950s Albert Travel Bus Service is Going Viral, Know Details About This Fascinating Historic Journey|url=https://www.uniquenewsonline.com/london-to-calcutta-by-road-picture-of-1950s-albert-travel-bus-service-is-going-viral-know-details-about-this-fascinating-historic-journey/|access-date=2021-02-19|website=Unique News Online|language=en-US}}</ref> 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 North Western India. After entering India, it eventually reached Calcutta via [[New Delhi]], [[Agra]], [[Allahabad]] and [[Banaras]].<ref name=samayam/>

==Facilities on the bus==
The trip was equipped with [[reading]] facilities, separate [[bunk beds|sleeping bunks]] for everyone, and [[Fan_(machine)|fan]]-operated [[heater|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 [[car stereo|music system]] for [[parties]].<ref name = curly/> It had time to spend at [[Tourist destinations in India|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]].<ref name = bus/><ref>{{Cite web|last=admin|date=2020-07-04|title=ലണ്ടൻ – കൽക്കട്ട ബസ് റൂട്ട്|url=http://newskeralaonline.org/london-culcutta-bus-%e0%b4%b2%e0%b4%a3%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%9f%e0%b5%bb-%e0%b4%95%e0%b5%bd%e0%b4%95%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%95%e0%b4%9f%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%9f-%e0%b4%ac%e0%b4%b8%e0%b5%8d-%e0%b4%b1%e0%b5%82%e0%b4%9f/|access-date=2020-07-24|website=News Kerala online|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Later history==


After some years the bus met with an [[accident]] and became unusable. Later the bus was purchased by Andy Stewart, a [[United Kingdom|British]] traveler. He rebuilt it to be a [[Double-decker bus|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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Eat|first=Tech Travel|date=2020-07-03|title=ലണ്ടനിൽ നിന്നും ഇന്ത്യയിലെ കൽക്കട്ടയിലേക്ക് ഒരു ബസ് സർവ്വീസ്|url=http://www.techtraveleat.com/story-of-london-culcutta-bus-service/|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Technology & Travel Blog from India|language=en-US}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=ലണ്ടനിൽ നിന്നു കൽക്കട്ടയിലെത്തിയ ഇന്ത്യാ മാന്‍...|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/travel/world-escapes/2020/07/04/facts-about-london-calcutta-bus-service.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=ManoramaOnline|language=ml}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=INGALIS|first=LEONARD|date=1957-08-08|title=London-Calcutta Bus is back in London - Owner drove passengers 20,300 Miles|work=The New York Times}}</ref> 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 [[Iranian Revolution|problems in Iran]] and the escalation of [[Indo-Pakistan Wars|tensions between Pakistan and India]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=K|first=Noushad K.|title=ലണ്ടൻ - കൽക്കട്ട ബസ്|url=https://www.visionnews.in/2020/07/blog-post_72.html|access-date=2020-07-31}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kolkata, Then Calcutta, Once Had The World's Longest Bus Route All The Way Till London!|url=https://www.whatshot.in/kolkata/kolkata-then-calcutta-once-had-the-worlds-longest-bus-route-till-london-c-23281|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Whats Hot|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:London-Calcutta bus service}}
[[Category:International bus transport]]
[[Category:1957 establishments]]
[[Category:1976 disestablishments]]

London–Calcutta bus service - Revision history

2402:3A80:118B:4C28:0:0:12B1:9BD9: /* Later history */