TTC transit control continues to ask subway operators to reduce their speed through certain areas of the subway system “as a safety precaution”. It’s also now put in place reduced speed zones (RSZs) on sections of the streetcar network. The TTC explains that the RSZs allow trains and streetcars to operate safely during service hours while minimizing disruptions to [passengers]. According to the TTC, they also protect workers who may work at track level to conduct routine or emergency inspections.
Subways
Here’s where reduced speed zones are in effect on Line 1 Yonge - University and Line 2 Bloor - Danforth:
Line 1 between: |
Direction |
St Clair and Davisville |
Both ways |
Bloor-Yonge and Rosedale |
Northbound |
Yorkdale and Lawrence West |
Southbound |
Yorkdale and Wilson |
Northbound
|
Wilson and Sheppard West |
Both ways |
Line 2 between: |
Direction |
Warden and Kennedy |
Eastbound |
Coxwell and Woodbine |
Eastbound |
Old Mill and Jane |
Eastbound |

At reduced speeds, trains are moving at between 15 and 25 kilometres per hour (km/h), instead of normal speeds of 40 to 50 km/h. One reduced speed zone can add about one to three minutes to a subway trip.
TTC staff are making announcements on the trains and sharing information on the screens near the doors on trains along Line 1 to let you know why the train is travelling more slowly than normally in that area. Similar announcements are also playing at stations so you’re aware that your commute may be longer than usually before you board a train.
To address RSZ in the subway system, the TTC says it’s leveraging state-of-good-repair projects and 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; and
- compacting the “ballast” (stones beneath the tracks, which help with draining and stabilizing the rails).
The TTC says, “Crews are working as quickly as possible within the available overnight and weekend windows to complete the track work. Our goal is to minimize the overall number of RSZs so the impact on trip times is minimal. While we anticipate reducing the number of current restrictions significantly over the coming months, ongoing proactive track inspections mean that the TTC will always have some slow orders in place in different locations across the network.”
Streetcars
Five reduced speed zones are in place on the streetcar network. The impact on travel time will be minimal but will vary, especially in cases where streetcars are travelling on a section of road where vehicles operate 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.
Note that streetcars along the 511 Bathurst and 512 St Clair routes only travel along the section of track on Bathurst Street at Bridgman Avenue, when entering and leaving service. This part of the streetcar network doesn’t receive regular service.
Streetcars travel at 10 km/h when they travel through an area with a RSZ. Once past the RSZ, cars operate at a safe and legal speed and according to traffic conditions.
Similar to its work to remove RSZs on the subway system, the TTC is also working to reduce the number of reduced speed zones on the streetcar network during closures by:
- replacing aging rails, concrete and overhead infrastructure;
- repairing sections of the track, concrete and overhead wires that are broken, damaged or worn out; and
- continually exploring technical solutions to remove any weather-related speed restrictions and implementing changes where possible.