[aneezan]

We have an active off-work channel on our office messaging tool, where one of the most discussed topics is automobiles and travel.
Today, one of my colleagues shared this interesting graphic/picture which I in-turn wanted to share here.



Tried to probe him further on where he got it from but got no leads. So, decided to do a reverse image search on Google. Below the first few non-relevant links, finally was this: andystewart.com.au. A tour company setup in by Andy Steward in Australia
This specific: "World's Longest Bus Route" was established in 1968.
Interesting reflecting through what this journey may have been for the passengers in the 1960's and 70's, in a bus, through all those countries, cultures and on roads nowhere as good as we have now.

From the website:-

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. It was an epic adventure.

The bus returned to Sydney in 1969, departing from Bay 1 at Victoria Coach Station as promised by the superintendant and taking the same route beneath the rail bridge at Dozan where the river-bed had been cleared in advance in a generous welcoming gesture by the local highway authority after the annual spring water flows.

In 1970 the third journey, Sydney to London, took the Khyber Pass route via Afghanistan to avoid the Bolan scenario yet again. The new route had only one height diversion (read the book!) and was much enjoyed by travellers as Afghanistan, a starkly beautiful country, was becoming a popular destination.

A year-round timetable was drawn up for a regular service between London and Calcutta, being trip Nos 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9, and then trip No 10 running right through to Sydney and Trip No 11 from Sydney back to London. Trip Nos 12, 13, 14 & 15 operated between London and Calcutta.

In 1976, with political tensions rising in Iran, trip No 16 was planned to return ALBERT back to Sydney for a well earned retirement. However, the pace of revoloutionary fervour beat our schedule with travel through Iran being considered impractical, so Albert had to be rested in England.

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!

source:andystewart.com.au

[v1p3r]

This is pretty cool! Just calculated that in today's money, it works out to about 4 lakhs in rupees.

[digitalnirvana]

Strange coincidence, just got this as a message from someone today.

Here is a pic of the bus probably somewhere in Paris or Belgium, the text in Bengali roughly translates to

A BUS USED TO RUN FROM LONDON TO CALCUTTA!

The World's Longest Bus Route from London to Calcutta! Believe it or not! This service started on the 15th of April 1957. Fare was 85 pounds. The bus used to run almost up to 1970. It travelled via Germany, Austria or Paris, and then on to Belgrade, Istanbul (Turkey), Tehran (Iran), Herat and Kabul (Afghanistan), Lahore (Pakistan) to Amritsar. Then through Delhi to Kolkata. It is unknown how long the journey used to last. Will you go on a trip if it starts again?

[Amrik Singh]

As far as I remember, in late 60's and upto 70's, Tour operated buses were common to be seen in Connaught Place, New Delhi. They used to run Hop In Hop Off between London and Nepal / Goa. Hippie culture time.
Once situation in Iran deteriorated, land route between Asia and Europe was affected. Post Iran revolution, Soviet interference in Afghanistan was the final blow which resulted in Terrorism in the region to blow up fully that has shown no path to normalcy.

[am1m]

Didn't the Lonely Planet guide/company concept originate on one of these overland Europe-Asia-Australia journeys?

"Lonely Planet was founded by married couple Maureen and Tony Wheeler. In 1972, they embarked on an overland trip through Europe and Asia to Australia, following the route of the Oxford and Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition."

It's an interesting read, "Across Asia on the Cheap: A Complete Guide to Making the Overland Trip".

From what I understand these overland tours were popular back then with people who didn't have much money but had a lot of time on their hands. Guess that gave rise to the 'Hippie trails' and 'Banana pancake trails' which are still quite popular today with 'flashpackers'.

[hothatchaway]

What a fascinating tidbit! This seems incredible given the contemporary scenario, where travel permits to many places are a pain.

This concept is just impossible now, globalization is just a misnomer

[Amrik Singh]

The hippie trail (also the overland) is the name given to the overland journey taken by members of the hippie subculture and others from the mid-1950s to the late 1970s between Europe and South Asia, mainly through Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. The hippie trail was a form of alternative tourism, and one of the key elements was travelling as cheaply as possible, mainly to extend the length of time away from home.
The term "hippie" became current in the mid-to-late 1960s; "beatnik" was the previous term from the later 1950s

- From Wiki

[Amrik Singh]

Found some pictures of Golden era, when London Calcutta road trip was in place

.

Some interesting links

http://www.cindyamey.com/ver1-3/foru...pic.php?id=209

[Tapish]

This is such an amazing thread.

Wishful thinking - I would love to do this kind of a trip if this comes back anytime. Though I think it would be a logistical nightmare if something goes wrong.

The longest I have been on a bus is a 700 km one way from DC to Boston which honestly was a pain on the Megabus. A friend I know had done the Delhi-Leh on the HPTC bus a couple of years back in 3 days.

[moralfibre]

Source

Not so uncommon. It was the Hippie trail that gave rise to these overland bus trips. It was quite fascinating to hear stories of people meeting enroute, starting a family, abandoning spouses, etc.

Do checkout some interesting stories that came up on India Mike.

Operators for Overland travel to India.

The site also carries a fabulous gallery like this one for "Budget bus": :Link 1

And this one: Link 2

Relevant thread on India Mike forum discussion

[Rahul Rao]

As a child I remember two operators One called overland tours, and another called Honest Bell who operated from Pune. Honest Bell had very jolly Afghan drivers and crew, and a rolling awning on the RHS which could be opened out when parked.
Buses used to start from the lane between O hotel and German bakery in Koregaon park, and some of them were Man Mid engine buses, with horizontal underfloor engine.
Remember a childhood bet about the horizontal block, and then convincing the driver to open the floor panel and show us.
They used to talk about custom office on a ferry for crossings on Van lake between Iran & Turkey, and also Bus carrying ferry from Ostend to Dover in UK.
Scandinavia bound buses would take a ferry from Estonia.
The last bus is said to have run in 1981, and one abandoned Mann bus was later moved to lane off Bajirao road Pune.

Rahul

[swiftgeorge]

Interesting thread.

There are tour operators such as Dragoman who still offer such overland trips. In India they operate out of 4 metros and have some trips starting from there.

Some of the trips they offer like Istanbul to Bangkok (Asia) or Cartagena to Ushuaia (South America) would be interesting to take.

https://www.dragoman.com/

[vivek95]

Wow, it is hard to believe such transcontinental direct bus routes existed in those days. Being an avid busfan, it is heartening for me to see the actual pics of the buses from the bygone era although I already knew this fact since few years. About 3 years back, wasn't there a news around of a new direct bus between Delhi/Kashmir and Europe similarly ??

We used to rave when VRL travels, Hubli, Karnataka launched India's longest bus route Bangalore--Jodhpur (2000 kms one way) sometime in 2013 with Volvo B9R multiaxle buses. SRS travels, Karnataka soon followed with their Volvos and Scanias, then by MR and Jakhar Travels, Rajasthan with their Ashok Leyland buses. Bangalore--Jodhpur still happens to be the longest bus route in India although an even longer Bangalore--Ajmer--Pushkar by SRS operated briefly. VRL sadly stopped this service last year or so while others continue.

[Amrik Singh]

I suppose we still have this service

Delhi-Kathmandu bus is a trans-boundary bus service connecting India and Nepal's capitals at Delhi and Kathmandu respectively. The service is operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation and was launched in 2014. - Wikipedia

Although there were initial hiccups as the Bus could not be registered in Delhi because Diesel Engine Buses are not registered in Delhi. So some laws had to be amended for it.

[sparky@home]

This is sure one interesting ride of the old days, however if such a bus ride would be feasible in present times is a debatable issue. One of the longest bus rides is from Rio to Lima, may be the longest presently, a whopping 6300 kms and around 100 hrs of bus ride. This too would be a very interesting ride.

https://youtu.be/C_ODFlqURxY