"The 'Bus to Hell' Rides Again... Poland's Number 666 Bus Makes a Comeback"

To a resort pronounced like "hell"
Changed to 669 in 2023 after religious backlash
Returns after 3 years thanks to tourist demand

The number 666 bus in Poland, which garnered attention as the so-called "bus to hell," has made a comeback after three years, drawing renewed interest.

Old Bus No. 666. Yonhap News Agency

According to a report by Euronews, cited by Yonhap News on May 30 (local time), German-based intercity bus operator FlixBus has launched a new route this summer running from Krakow in southern Poland, through the capital Warsaw, to the northern resort town of Hel. The company has designated the route number as 666.

The reason this route earned the nickname "bus to hell" is due to its final destination. Hel is a well-known resort town on the Baltic Sea coast in northern Poland, and its name is pronounced the same as "hell" in English. Combined with the number 666, which is widely regarded as a symbol of the devil in Christian cultures, the bus route quickly became known as the "bus to hell."

Previously, the local Polish bus operator PKS Gdynia Dempki operated a 666 line, but in 2023, following criticism from religious groups and others who argued it was "inappropriate," the number was changed to 669. Afterward, there was ongoing controversy over the number change, with some arguing that the unique route number attracted tourists and even petitions calling for the restoration of the 666 number.

FlixBus, which has revived the 666 route this time, is actively leveraging this symbolism. Michal Lehmann of FlixBus Eastern Europe announced the launch of the new route, stating, "It's best when the route name tells you exactly where the bus is going," and added, "In this case, no further explanation is needed. Everyone can understand it."

Meanwhile, Hel, located on the Baltic coast in northern Poland, is famous as a beach resort town. The name Hel is not related to the concept of hell, but is believed to originate from an ancient Germanic word meaning "sand dune" or "coastal hill."

Euronews reported, "The return of the number 666 bus is significant not only as a new holiday route, but also because one of Poland's most famous bus numbers has made a comeback."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.