Poland’s most famous bus line – the 666 to Hel, a town on the Baltic coast – has been brought to an end after its operator received repeated complaints about the choice of number, which one Christian group warned was “spreading Satanism”.
The 666 bus ran during summer months between the village of Dębki and the town of Hel, which is located at the end of a peninsula – also called Hel – that separates the Baltic Sea from the Bay of Puck. The area, famous for its sandy beaches, is a popular tourist destination.
The bus route’s signage – saying “666 Hel” – has long drawn attention, with some visitors claiming to have come to the area just to travel the line.
However, on Monday the local bus operator, PKS Gdynia, announced that the name of the route was changing to 669.
“This year, we are turning the last 6 upside down,” wrote the firm, without offering any explanation for the decision.
The move was met with widespread criticism online, with many commenters noting that the 666 route had brought attention and visitors to the area.
“It was a worldwide advert,” wrote one Polish Facebook user under PKS Gdynia’s post.
“I’m not even from your country but I’ve loved seeing excited bus people take trips just to take a trip on this thing,” wrote another user in English. “Really hope you change it back, I don’t want the story of this line to die.”
Na Hel turystów woził autobus o numerze… 666. Dla wielu był to dobry żart, czasami nawet mówiło się, że jest to kurs po prostu kultowy. Ba, o 666 na Hel pisały zagraniczne media, że Polacy mają i pięknie. I dystans. No to już 666 nie pojedzie, bo obraża katolików. Po protestach… pic.twitter.com/mHOgQjNbF5
— tomasz.golonko (@TomaszGolonko) June 14, 2023
Many speculated that the change had been made due to complaints by religious conservatives in Poland, which is one of Europe’s most Christian countries. In 2018, Fronda, a Catholic magazine, called for the bus route’s number to be changed as it was “spreading anti-Christian propaganda” and “Satanism”.
Today, Marcin Szwaczyk, who oversees PKS Gdynia’s route planning, confirmed that such complaints were indeed behind the firm’s decision.
“For years, we have received objections from opponents of this number,” he told local news service Trojmiasto.pl. “So we changed it from 666 to 669, [which is] less controversial and less conspicuous.”
However, he revealed that, in the two days since the change was announced, the firm has been inundated with complaints “from the other side” by those who want the old 666 back.
Polish Catholic website demands end of 666 bus route that runs to town of Hel on Poland's Baltic coast. 'It's scandalous anti-Christian propaganda, simply satanic, and undermines Christian order of Polish state. A mentally sound person doesn't disregard the reality of damnation'. pic.twitter.com/caJ3xn9ndm
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) July 30, 2018
Main image credit: Michał Beim/Wikimedia Commons (under CC BY-SA 4.0)
Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
