Ok! Here’s what we know till now. There was a bus service, which operated between London, Sydney, and India. It had made 15 trips during its existence and the bus was nicknamed Albert. So read on to find out more about the Bus Route from London to Kolkata!
These events, happening back in the 1960s, are already a shocker for many of us today. But the truth behind it all stays hidden as history that dates back to the 60s related to the existence of this means of public transport has, quite frankly, been long buried.
So let’s uncover the astonishing facts related to this service.
Here are 10 amazing facts that you need to know about the longest bus route from London to Kolkata.
Routes covered by this Bus:
So we know that the longest bus route from London to Kolkata covered a major part of Asia and Europe. Here is a list of countries through which the bus passed before it reached its destination in India.
- England
- Belgium
- West Germany
- Austria
- Yugoslavia
- Bulgaria
- Turkey
- Iran
- Afghanistan
- West Pakistan
and finally India!
Luxuries onboard:
This bus route from London to Kolkata was considered to be a luxurious ride that comprised of several facilities. Like the lower deck was a reading and dining saloon while the upper deck was used for observation purposes. It also offered good food, bunk beds, fan heaters, radio service, and other amenities. In recent times these services may sound sub-par. Back in the day, they were considered as luxurious as travelling first class in a plane today.
Highlights:
It doesn’t end there, this bus route from London to Kolkata also offered several highlights akin to a touring service. Onboard this bus, you would get a tour of Banaras, the peacock throne, Afghan tribesmen, Taj Mahal, Communist Bulgaria and the coast of the Caspian Sea.
Timetable:
Since we are so into the services offered by this bus trip, let’s find out on which dates the bus used to run.
Here is the timetable for the bus route from London to Kolkata:
| Place | 1972 | 1972 | 1973 |
|---|---|---|---|
| London(Victoria) | July 25 | Nov 14 | Apr 17 |
| Istanbul | Aug 6 | Nov 26 | Apr 29 |
| Tehran | Aug 18 | Dec 8 | May 11 |
| Kabul | Aug 27 | Dec 17 | May 20 |
| New Delhi | Sep 5 | Dec 26 | May 29 |
| Calcutta | Sep 11 | Dec 31 | June 4 |
Pricey:
Before we get on with this trip, remember how we mentioned that it was a luxurious bus route from London to Kolkata? Well, we weren’t kidding as the bus route cost 145 Pounds back in the day which amounts to a large sum in rupees in current times (gold was available at around INR 40/- per 10 grams in those days in India, and now it is at 50k! Do the math yourself then!). This bus ride was definitely a costly affair for the 60s. So passengers choosing to travel via this method must have been wealthy for sure.
Sydney link:
Passengers were said to travel between Sydney and London via this bus route as well but then again a million questions arise, as, before anything, we know that Australia is separated from the Asian and European continents by large water bodies i.e. the oceans! So how is that even possible? Well, read on, you’ll find out soon…
Indian passengers in Bus Route from London to Kolkata?
A quick research also brought to our attention that some of the passengers may have been Indians returning from London. But considering the recent independence gained back then and the cost, is that even possible? Was this bus route actually designed for transporting Indians or was it just another luxurious bus ride meant for the British? Well, read on to find out more!
First ever luxurious transport:
If this bus route from London to Kolkata actually existed, which we think it did, then such a luxurious means of traveling must have been a one-of-its-kind for sure. As back then services such as these weren’t really provided on transport as mundane as a bus. Even now, we can’t imagine such services being available on a bus. So, if it is true then it sure was a heck of a long journey!
Truth of the Bus Route from London to Kolkata:
Now getting down to judge as to whether Albert existed between the two cities seems too unlikely, but it was actually there. Also, one may wager that there was another place in Great Britain which was also named Calcutta and we may be getting confused due to that. But images state otherwise making things quite clear. Check the following image where you can see the bus being transported on a sea-ship when necessary. This is how it went from the erstwhile Calcutta to Sydney.
So, what is our take on the Bus Route from London to Kolkata?
Just enjoy the news! It is a great discovery and we should learn something from the people who came up with this idea back in the day. The bus crossed on an ocean-freighter-cum-cruise ship when it crossed over from Calcutta to Sydney. That’s one heck of an ingenuine idea! Also, check out our other publication where we deliberate on the question of its existence on another platform.
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