Polish transport authorities have announced the return of the now-infamous bus service to the coastal town of Hel, numbered 666 and nicknamed the ‘Highway to Hel’. The decision has left British transport planners scratching their heads, as the route’s demonic connotations spark both amusement and bafflement across the North Sea.
The service, which runs from the city of Wejherowo to the resort town of Hel on the Baltic coast, originally operated under the number 666 until 2013, when complaints from religious groups forced its renumbering to 668. Now, in a move described as ‘cultural defiance’, the Pomeranian Voivodeship has restored the original number for the summer season, citing popular demand and a touch of macabre humour.
“It’s a bit of fun, but it also reflects our commitment to local heritage,” said a spokesman for the voivodeship’s transport office. “Hel is a popular holiday destination, and the number 666 has become a tourist attraction in itself. We’re not taking it seriously, and neither should anyone else.”
British transport planners, however, are less amused. The Department for Transport in London expressed ‘concern’ over the decision, with one official commenting anonymously: “In the UK, we take route numbering very seriously. The number 666 carries heavy symbolism, and resurrecting it on a public bus service seems deliberately provocative. We cannot imagine a British operator doing the same.”
The comment highlights a cultural divide. In Poland, the bus has become a source of national pride and a quirky photo opportunity for tourists. Social media is buzzing with memes and jokes about the ‘devil’s bus’ to Hel. For British planners, steeped in a tradition of measured and often humourless transport terminology, the Polish move seems reckless.
Yet the Polish transport office insists there is no cause for alarm. “Our passengers are not superstitious,” the spokesman added. “They just want a reliable bus to the beach.”
For workers in the region, the controversy is a distraction from real issues. “I don’t care what number is on the bus as long as it gets me to my job at the Hel hotel on time,” said Maria Kowalski, a cleaner who commutes daily from Wejherowo. “But I have to admit, seeing the 666 sign makes me smile.”
The route has become a symbol of resilience. Despite complaints from religious groups and international caution, Poland is pressing ahead. For British planners, the lesson may be that sometimes, a bit of devilish humour is worth the controversy.
