East Sussex Rail Summit

Amber Rudd, Member of Parliament for Hastings and Rye, believes that the economic growth of the area will be aided by improvements to railway services serving her constituency. Following a rail summit held in 2014 during when Network Rail and the Government made a commitment to extend high speed services to Hastings and Rye, the first sign of fruit was the introduction in the December 2014 timetable of one fast up service from Hastings in the morning peak and one fast down service at the beginning of the evening peak. These have been nicknamed the "Business Express" and the "Amber Rudd Express".

A second East Sussex Rail Summit was held on the morning of Friday 30 January 2015 at the Hastings Coast College. This was due to include presentations from, amongst others, the Rail Minister Claire Perry MP, Network Rail, Southern and Southeastern. Following this there was a special run for invited guests of a Southeastern High Speed "Javelin" train - albeit not at high speed - between Hastings and Eastbourne and return. It is believed this was a privately funded charter and brought Class 395 to the area for the first time. Building on the nickname of the two peak express workings this excursion had been named the "Amber Rudd Super Express" even before it departed from Ashford - best not to abbreviate this using its initials!

photograph by Richard Whitbread

(above) The unit selected for the charter was 395014 still carrying its "The Victoria Cross" Royal British Legion poppy vinyls. It ran as 5Z01 empty stock from Ashford Down Sidings to Hastings via Tonbridge (reverse). The train is seen here about to pass through Wadhurst station.

(left) Arriving at Hastings early, 395014 is at Hastings prior to departure to Eastbourne as 1Z91.

photograph by Colin Price

photograph courtesy of Blood and Custard

(above) In bright but cold wintry weather along the East Sussex coast, 395014 passes Ravenside Retail and Leisure Park, approaching Galley Hill, Bexhill.

photograph by Colin Price

(above) 1Z91 approaching Pevensey and Westham station, not far from its destination. Note the semaphore signal. The long-delayed introduction of new colour light signalling along the line is now due to happen over the weekend of 14th/15th February, so a scene like this is going to be unique.

(below) A Class 395 unit has never served Eastbourne before.

photograph by "GB"

photograph by "GB"

(above) The train just prior to departure as 1Z92 from Platform 1. Amber Rudd MP is the lady with blue shoes in the centre of the picture.

(below) Back at Pevensey and Westham 395014 is about to pass through the station.

photograph by Richard Whitbread

photograph courtesy of Blood and Custard

(above) 395014 back at Bexhill passing the soon-to-be-demolished signal box, so a scene that will never be repeated. The train stopped at Bexhill and schoolchidren could be seen enjoying riding in the rear cab.

(below) The train, now 5Z02 ECS, departed Hastings for Ashford Down Sidings 20 minutes early. Prior to high speed services to Hastings and Eastbourne being introduced, electrification - whether by conductor rail 750V DC or 25kV AC catenary - of the Ore to Ashford "Marsh" line will be required. This is a long overdue and much desired "infill" electrification which will be relatively easy compared to the major re-modelling needed at Ashford to link the Rye line to HS1. Currently such a routing is impossible without a double reversal move from platforms 1/2 to platform 3.

photograph by "GB"