"Number of the Devil" Religious Protests Threaten Discontinuation of Poland's Famous Bus No. 666

Name Change to '669' Planned Amid Religious Opposition
"Negative Impact on Tourism" Now Local Residents Oppose

The so-called "Hell-bound Bus" number 666 in Poland is scheduled to be discontinued, sparking controversy among local residents. The Hell-bound Bus had become a promotional tool attracting tourists.

On the 15th (local time), the British BBC broadcast highlighted the controversy arising in a small Polish village. The number 666 bus route in Poland is set to be changed to 669, but residents are opposing this.

The number 666 bus is a temporary route operating for several months during the summer tourist season. The bus connects Hel, a Baltic Sea coastal tourist destination in northern Poland, with the nearby village of D?bki. Hel is a beautiful peninsula with white sandy beaches along a long coastline and is one of Poland's representative resorts.

Bus route number 666 leading to Hel, a Baltic Sea coastal resort in Poland. [Image source=Twitter]

Thanks to the pronunciation similar to the English word "Hell" and the number "666," which is considered ominous in English-speaking countries, the number 666 bus route became popular among tourists.

However, some religious groups reportedly protested against the number 666 bus route. The number 666 symbolizes Satan in the Bible, leading to claims that this bus promotes "Satanism."

The coastline of the Hel Peninsula, a resort area in Poland.

As protests continued, the bus operator reportedly announced on the 12th that they would change the last digit 6, renaming the 666 route to 669.

This decision, however, sparked backlash from village residents. They pointed out that tourists attracted by the number 666 bus route might stop coming.

Netizens who found the number 666 bus route interesting also expressed dissatisfaction. On Polish social media, comments included, "The bus itself was an effective advertising slogan," "The bus operator is erasing a unique marketing tool," and "People who rode the bus for fun will lose interest."

The bus operator at the center of the controversy, 'PKS,' told the BBC, "We changed the existing route number due to much opposition, but now complaints are coming from the other side," expressing their frustration.

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