Thank you for offering it. I was aware that there was a "proper" term but didn't take the time to track it down as, regardless of what they should be called, I avoid them and so don't give the whole thing much thought. There was a discussion on this subject a while back and I had meant to ask the question then, but didn't do so.
Our priest claims not to like them but uses them only to avoid the public outcry that would ensue were an additional 20 minutes to be added on to the mass to accommodate their elimination. I think it's 5 minutes tops and he just wants to avoid the controversy that would ensue, even though our parish is a pretty by-the-book one, liturgically speaking.
1. Altar rails were installed;
2. Priest administered the Host;
3. The lay minister followed with the chalice.
That's how it was done in our very High Piskie parish -- the priest simply went down the row of kneeling parishioners. If two priests (or a priest and deacon) were present, each took one side of the altar rail and had a chalice bearer following.
It is faster than the single line in front of the priest (or lay minister) because there's no pause while the next person presents him or herself. The priest is in constant motion and by the time he gets to the end of the rail, the other end has filled up again. Very efficient.
Since in our old parish I was in the choir and my husband was Head Usher at the High Mass, I can tell you with certainty that we had more communicants in that parish and yet less time elapsed in administering communion.