Reduced Speed Zones
The TTC will put reduced speed zones in place as a safety measure while track maintenance and upgrades are completed within its subway system and streetcar network. These zones, which allow service to continue, can also be put in place following a temporary repair to the tracks, before a permanent repair is made, as well as during winter months or extreme heat. Subway trains and streetcars will be allowed to return to regular speed once the work has ended and the tracks have been inspected, or the weather has changed.
Most of the track work within the subway system is done when service ends for the day. While streetcar track work can occur during and after service. Due to ongoing track inspections, the TTC will likely have slow orders in place in different locations across its network at any given time.
Follow @ttcnotices and check this page regularly to see if there are any reduced speed zones that may impact your trip.
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Reduced Speed Zones in the subway system
There are currently 11 Reduced Speed Zones across Lines 1 and 2, that may impact your travel time through these areas.
Line 1 between: Direction Lawrence and Eglinton Southbound St Clair and Davisville Both ways Bloor-Yonge and Rosedale Northbound Yorkdale and Lawrence West Southbound Yorkdale and Wilson Southbound Wilson and Sheppard West Southbound Line 2 between: Direction Warden and Victoria Park Westbound Coxwell and Woodbine Eastbound Keele and Dundas West Eastbound -
Reduced Speed Zones on the streetcar network
There are currently five reduced speed zones in the following locations on the streetcar network. The impact on travel time will be minimal but will vary especially in cases where streetcars are travelling on the same section of road that vehicles operate on too.
Route Location Direction 511 Bathurst Bathurst Street at Bridgman Avenue* Both ways 503 / 303 Kingston Rd King St. E. / Church St. intersection Both ways 504 / 304 King King St. E. / Church St. intersection Both ways 501 / 301 Queen Queen St. E. at Degrassi St.* Both ways 509 Harbourfront Queens Quay between York Street and Harbourfront Tunnel* Both ways
*These reduced speed zones are in place during the winter months.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a reduced speed zone?
A reduced speed zone is an area in which trains and streetcars are required to travel at a slower-than-normal speed to allow maintenance work and upgrades to be done on the tracks. These zones, which allow service to continue, can also be put in place following a temporary repair to the tracks, before a permanent repair is made, as well as during winter months or extreme heat.How fast do subway trains travel in a reduced speed zone?
In the areas where maintenance work is taking place, trains typically travel between 15 and 25 km/h, compared to regular operating speeds of approximately 40 to 60 km/h.How fast do streetcars travel in a reduced speed zone?
Streetcars will operate at 10 km/h when they travel through an area with a reduced speed zone in place. Once past the reduced speed zone, streetcars will travel at a safe and legal speed and according to traffic conditions.How much longer will my trip take because of these zones?
One reduced speed zone can add approximately one to three minutes to a subway trip. The impact on streetcar travel time will be minimal but will vary especially in cases where streetcars are travelling on the same section of road that vehicles operate on too. Streetcars will operate at 10 km/h when they travel through an area with a reduced speed zone in place. You are encouraged to plan ahead when travelling in areas where these zones are in place. Download a transit app, or use the Trip planner to plan your route.What is the TTC doing to address the speed restrictions in the subway?
The TTC is leveraging existing state-of-good-repair projects and scheduled early and weekend closures to complete the track maintenance. These planned closures allow crews to work efficiently and effectively to complete the work, which often involves:- Replacing aging rails, ties and clips with new ones
- Replacing a section of the track
- Compacting the stones that have been placed beneath the tracks, which help with drainage and stabilization of the rails.
When will the reduced speed zones in the subway be lifted?
Crews are working as quickly as possible within the available overnight and weekend windows to complete the track work, however, due to ongoing track inspections, the TTC will likely have slow orders in place in different locations across its network at any given time.What is the TTC doing to address the speed restrictions on the streetcar network?
The TTC is leveraging existing state-of-good-repair projects and scheduled early and weekend closures to complete the track and/or overhead wire maintenance. These planned closures allow crews to work efficiently and effectively to complete the work, which often involves:- Replacing aging rails, concrete and overhead infrastructure
- Repairing sections of the track, concrete and overhead wires that have broken, been damaged or worn out
- Continually exploring technical solutions to remove any weather-related speed restrictions and implementing changes where the opportunity exists
When will the reduced speed zones on the streetcar network be lifted?
As crews address the issues leading to reduced speed zones, they will be lifted as quickly as possible when safe to do so.This is an ongoing process to make major capital repairs and improve overall long-term performance of the streetcar network through a strategic state-of-good-repair program. There will likely be slow orders in place at any given time due to this work.