Fastline was created by six railwaymen who undertook a successful management buyout (MBO) of Eastern Track Renewals from British Rail in 1996.

They also examined the possibility of acquiring their own diesel locomotives because of dissatisfaction with the service provided by others for engineering trains.

The company was acquired by Jarvis, who later resurrected the Fastline name to create a railway freight operator.

A fourth and a fifth Class 56 (56311 & 56312) were hired in from Hanson Traction Ltd. Fastline's base was at Doncaster, Yorkshire.

Coal flows run by Fastline included: Locomotive numbers 56301 and 56302 have been preserved and were moved to Barrow Hill Engine Shed in April 2011.