fast
A train that calls at only some stations it passes between its origin and destination, typically just the principal stations.
fast: a passenger train that skips minor stops
A fast is a scheduled passenger train service that stops only at major stations along its route, passing through minor halts without slowing. The term, common in British and Commonwealth rail systems, distinguishes these trains from all-stations services (locals or stopping trains) and from express services that may run non-stop between distant terminals. A fast typically makes somewhere between 4 and 12 stops across a regional route of 50 to 150 miles, depending on line density and geography.
The pattern emerged from Victorian railways serving both local commuters and longer-distance through passengers. Rather than run two entirely separate train sets, operators could run a single service that served major town stations (usually places with platforms long enough for 8 to 10 coaches) while skipping request stops, halts, and minor junctions. This allowed rail companies to offer both frequencies and speed at lower operating cost than dedicated express services.
Operating practice and signalling
A fast operates under the same signal aspect and speed authority as any other train on its line, but platform lengths and station track layouts must accommodate its consist. On busy routes, fasts are typically scheduled at timetable intervals that keep them ahead of following stopping trains; they may receive priority over local services during peak periods. Crossing loops or sidings must be long enough to hold a fast for passing manoeuvres if operational delays compress headway.
The service class depends entirely on the infrastructure and operator policy. A fast on a branchline might run at 50 mph line speed and carry 150 passengers; the same term applies to a 100 mph regional express carrying 400. The distinction is never about speed alone, but about stop pattern. Timetables distinguish fasts from locals by symbol or footnote, and passengers learn to read which trains suit their journey.
Confusion sometimes arises because the term has no formal regulatory definition in most countries. Operators define it for their own networks. The term has declined in use where automated passenger information systems now display stop sequences directly, making the old categorical labels less necessary. However, 'fast' remains embedded in scheduling language, driver briefings, and passenger expectation across heritage lines and regional franchises.