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Britain to Oz bus is popular with Irish Half of all
bookings for a new overland bus service from London to Sydney have been
made by Irish travellers.
Operator OzBus said one-third of the passengers on the first bus were
Irish.
It added that it had received a large number of bookings from Irish travellers
for future departure dates.
Founder Mark Creasy launched OzBus in January and the first service departs
in September with 38 passengers.
The idea to travel by bus from London to Sydney was inspired by his own
travel experiences.
He said: “I had the idea to try to do the trip myself when I was
backpacking.
“Back then it was a very different world.
“I flew from Darwin to East Timor and worked my way across the islands.
“I couldn’t go any further than Thailand.
“But I realised that it could be done now and done as a commercial
entity.”
The 12-week journey to Sydney will pass through 20 countries and cost
about €5,500 per passenger which includes transport, accommodation
and some meals.
Passengers must arrange and pay for their own visas for the trip.
Pre-departure visas are required for Iran, Pakistan, India and Nepal while
visas for Turkey and Laos can be acquired along the way.
The service will also operate in reverse with the first bus departing
from Sydney in January.
Mr Creasy plans for one bus to depart from London and Sydney each month.
The company owns two buses but expects to have a fleet of six by the end
of next year.
OzBus uses second-hand Volvo buses which have been modified slightly in
order to make them look more off-road.
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