Variety on the Amber Rudd Express

Having been introduced in the December 2014 timetable change, with the evenings getting slightly longer it became possible to get a picture of the Thameslink 377s on the evening "Amber Rudd Express". For the uninitiated, the "Amber Rudd Express" is the nickname for a morning peak fast Hastings to Charing Cross service and early evening peak return that were introduced following a campaign by Amber Rudd MP for better, faster, rail services for her constituency.

(above) On 13th February 2015 377506 and 377507 pass Tonbridge on the 16:20 Charing Cross - Hastings.

(below) By happy coincidence this then provided the opportunity to picture 377507 overtaking 375707 (on the rear of the 16:15 Charing Cross - Hastings) whilst the latter unit was in platform 3 at Tonbridge. What are the chances of seeing two units on adjacent tracks with numbers only different by their middle two digits being transposed ?

photographs by Colin Price

(above) 377514 and 377513 pass Crowhurst on 3rd March.
photograph by Chris Livings

(below) 377213 and 377214 passing Dunton Green on 24th March.
photograph by Colin Price

(above) Not consecutively numbered units two days later! 377215 and 377212 approach High Brooms on 26th March.

(below) Nor the next day. 377505 and 377518 climb out of Tonbridge on 27th March.
photographs by Colin Price

(above) Blue and green units on the last day of March. 377513 and 377210 approach Stonegate.
photograph by Colin Price

(below) On the same day at journey's end. 377513 and 377210 in platform 1 at Hastings.
photograph by Chris Livings