Reduced Speed Zones

There are currently 10 Reduced Speed Zones across Lines 1 and 2, that may impact your travel time through these areas.

These Reduced speed zones are in place as a safety measure while track maintenance and upgrades are completed. Most of the work is done after the subway system is shut down, however the zones do remain in place until the work is finished, the track has been inspected and the area has been approved for trains to return to their normal speed along the tracks. 

Announcements are being made on the trains and shared on the screens near the doors (trains on Line 1) to let people know why the train is travelling slower than normal in that area. Similar announcements are also playing at stations so people are aware their commute may be impacted before they get on a subway. 

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.

Thank you for your patience as we complete this important work. 

Follow @ttcnotices and check this page regularly to see if any Reduced  speed zones may impact your trip. Thank you for your patience.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Reduced  speed zone? 

A Reduced  speed zone, or RSZ, is an area in which trains are required to travel at a slower-than-normal speed to minimize wear on the tracks and allow maintenance work and upgrades to be done. Having an RSZ in place does not mean the track is unsafe to travel on. 

Does a Reduced  speed zone mean the track is unsafe? 

No. Having an RSZ in place does not mean the track is unsafe to travel on. These zones are put in place to minimize wear on the tracks and allow for the maintenance and track upgrades to be completed and inspected before trains are allowed to return to regular speed. 

How fast do 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. 

Why are there so many in the subway system now? 

Ongoing track inspections and the introduction of a bi-annual geometric track survey, which used to be done annually, have led to more RSZs being put in place across the subway network. 

How much longer will my trip take because of these zones? 

One RSZ can add approximately one to three minutes to a trip. You are encouraged to plan ahead when travelling in areas where RSZs are in place. 

What is the TTC doing to address these speed restrictions? 

To expedite repairs and minimize disruptions, 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 be lifted? 

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.