Reduced Speed Zones
Reduced speed zones, or slow orders, are proactively put in place when small deficiencies are found in our subway system.
These speed restrictions allow service to continue, at a slower speed through the impacted area, 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 the winter or extreme heat. Subway trains 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 is done when service ends for the day. Due to ongoing track inspections, slow orders will likely be in place in different locations across the 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 6 Reduced Speed Zones across Lines 1 and 2, that may impact your travel time through these areas.
Line 1 (Yonge-University) to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station
| Location | Length of defect (metres) | Distance between stations (metres) | Track under reduced speed (%) | Reduced speed (km/h) | Normal speed (km/h) | Reason | Target removal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southbound Eglinton to Davisville | 152 | 891 | 17 | 25 | 32 | Track issue | Early November |
| Northbound Glencairn to Lawrence West | 165 | 763 | 22 | 20 | 37 | Track issue | Early November |
Line 1 (Yonge-University) to Finch Station
| Location | Length of defect (metres) | Distance between stations (metres) | Track under reduced speed (%) | Reduced speed (km/h) | Normal speed (km/h) | Reason | Target removal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southbound Yorkdale to Lawrence West | 579 | 1,122 | 52 | 35 | 48 | Track issue | Late November |
| Northbound Union to King | 183 | 454 | 40 | 15 | 27 | Track issue | Late November |
Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) to Kennedy Station
| Location | Length of defect (metres) | Distance between stations (metres) | Track under reduced speed (%) | Reduced speed (km/h) | Normal speed (km/h) | Reason | Target removal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastbound Kipling to Islington | 210 | 1,282 | 16 | 20 | 31 | Track issue | Late November |
Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) to Kipling Station
| Location | Length of defect (metres) | Distance between stations (metres) | Track under reduced speed (%) | Reduced speed (km/h) | Normal speed (km/h) | Reason | Target removal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westbound Jane to Old Mill | 183 | 889 | 21 | 35 | 37 | Track issue | Early November |
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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 subway trains are required to travel at a slower-than-normal speed to allow maintenance work and upgrades to be done on the tracks, switches or signals. Speed restrictions allow service to continue, at a slower speed through the impacted area, and can also be put in place following a temporary repair to the tracks, before a permanent repair is made, as well as during the winter 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 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. 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, reduced speed zones or slow orders will likely be in place in different locations across the network at any given time.