02/10/2025
Sasakyan namin yan noon 🥰
🚌 JB Line: The Speed King of Sorsogon
In the days before budget airlines and expressways, the road from Sorsogon to Manila was long, winding, and unforgiving. But for thousands of Bicolanos, one bus line made that journey feel like a breeze: JB Line, the land-based legend known as the “Bicol Express on wheels.”
🚀 A Jest of Speed
JB Line wasn’t just fast—it was famously fast. Locals still recall how its buses could cover the 600+ kilometer stretch from Sorsogon to Manila in just 8 to 9 hours, a feat that bordered on myth. Drivers were known for their precision, discipline, and uncanny ability to glide through the Maharlika Highway with minimal stops. For passengers, it felt like flying—without leaving the ground.
🎭 From Rail to Road
The nickname “Bicol Express” was no accident. It paid homage to the Philippine National Railways’ once-iconic train route that connected Manila to Legazpi, Albay. As the train service declined in the 1970s, JB Line stepped in to fill the void—offering speed, comfort, and a sense of continuity for Bicolanos traveling to the capital.
🛋️ Comfort Meets Culture
JB Line wasn’t just about velocity. Its buses were known for their air-conditioned cabins, well-dressed crew, and punctual schedules. For students, OFWs, and balikbayans, riding JB Line was a rite of passage. It was the bus you took when you needed to be in Manila now, not tomorrow. It was the bus your parents trusted, your lola swore by, and your barkada booked for big city dreams.
🕰️ A Legacy That Lingers
Though JB Line eventually faded from the roads—overtaken by newer fleets and changing transport trends—its legacy lives on. TikTok tributes, Facebook throwbacks, and roadside stories still echo its name. In Sorsogon, JB Line is remembered not just as a bus company, but as a symbol of Bicolano grit, speed, and pride.
For those who rode it, JB Line wasn’t just a vehicle. It was a memory in motion.
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