Reduced Speed Zones
The TTC puts reduced speed zones, or slow orders, in place when we find small deficiencies in our rail-based operations.
In these areas, vehicles go slower than usual in order to maintain safe operation.
These speed restrictions allow service to continue while track maintenance and upgrades are completed. These safety measures 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.
Watch this video of the TTC’s Chief of Operations and Infrastructure Fort Monaco explaining more about speed restrictions within the subway system.
Check this page regularly to see the speed restrictions 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 York Mills and Lawrence Southbound St Clair and Davisville Both ways Bloor-Yonge and Rosedale Nothbound Glencairn and Lawrence West Northbound Yorkdale and Lawrence West Southbound Wilson and Sheppard West Southbound Line 2 between: Direction Coxwell and Woodbine Eastbound Keele and Dundas West Eastbound -
Reduced Speed Zones on the streetcar network
There are currently two reduced speed zones in the following locations on the streetcar network.
Route Location Direction 501/301 Queen Queen St. E. and the Don Valley Parkway Both ways 501/301 Queen Queen St. E. at Degrassi St. Both ways -
Frequently asked questions
What is a reduced speed zone or slow order?
A reduced speed zone, or slow order as it is also known, 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. Speed restrictions allow service to continue and 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 when a slow order has been put in place?
Trains typically travel between 10 and 25 km/h, compared to regular operating speeds of approximately 40 to 60 km/h.How fast do streetcars travel when a slow order has been put in place?
Streetcars will typically operate at 10 km/h. 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?
It really depends on how many slow orders are in place across the system and how long each slow zone is. 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 may vary when streetcars are travelling within mixed traffic. You should plan ahead when travelling in areas where speed restrictions are in place.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 slow orders, or the weather has changed, they will be lifted as quickly as possible when safe to do so. Similar to the subway system, due to ongoing track inspections and other maintenance happening across the streetcar network, there will likely be slow orders in place at any given time.