Emergency Evacuation Procedures

An important part of running a safe transit system is preparing for emergencies.  TTC employees are always ready to respond when needed – and you can be too.

The following information describes what to expect when emergency situations occur.

If an evacuation is necessary, TTC and/or the City’s emergency services personnel will assist customers to exit the train safely. In the rare event of a subway train evacuation:

• Remain calm.
• Listen for public address announcements from TTC or emergency services personnel.
• Follow instructions provided by TTC or emergency services personnel.
• Expect to travel through the subway car(s) to one end of the train, and to leave from a train exit as directed by TTC or emergency services personnel.
• Be prepared to leave large objects, such as strollers or packages, on the train. 

Once you have exited the train, it is important to:

• Be alert for tripping hazards.
• Avoid the third rail on the subway track.
• Do not step on any rails or track switches.
• Do not run in the tunnel.

If evacuation through the exit at the end of the train is not possible, TTC or emergency services personnel may open the side doors and you will be directed to exit from these doors where the tunnel lights can be seen (the platform/walkway side). Otherwise, customers may be directed to use the Emergency Door Opening Device (EDOD), which is located above every side door, and should:

• Break the EDOD plastic cover; pull the lever; and push the doors open.
• Follow the directions of TTC or emergency services personnel towards the nearest exit.

For customers with disabilities and customers unable to self-evacuate:

• TTC or emergency services personnel will determine the best evacuation method for customers unable to self-evacuate from the train, including persons who use a mobility device, and/or have mobility restrictions or other disabilities.
•  Some customers may be evacuated from the train to a safe location without their mobility devices. In these circumstances, the devices will be retrieved and returned to the customers as soon as possible after the emergency situation has ended.

TTC and emergency services personnel will assist customers to safely exit subway stations during emergency situations.

In the event of a subway station evacuation:

• Remain calm.
• Listen for public address announcements from TTC or emergency services personnel.
• Look for posted announcements on subway platform video screens.
• Follow instructions provided by TTC or emergency services personnel.
• Be prepared to leave behind large personal objects, such as bags or luggage.

For customers with disabilities and customers unable to self-evacuate:

• Customers who are unable to self-evacuate from the station, including persons who use a mobility device, and/or have mobility restrictions or other disabilities, should wait at a Designated Waiting Area (DWA) in the station. Once there, customers should use the DWA intercom to advise TTC personnel that they need assistance.
• TTC or emergency services personnel will determine the best evacuation method and make arrangements to provide customers with assistance out of the station.  Some customers may be evacuated from the station without their mobility devices. In these circumstances, the devices will be retrieved and returned to the customers as soon as possible after the emergency situation has ended.

TTC and emergency services personnel will assist customers to safely exit buses and streetcars during emergency situations. In the event of a bus or streetcar evacuation:

• Remain calm.
• Listen for public address announcements from TTC or emergency services personnel.
• Follow instructions provided by TTC or emergency services personnel.
• Leave large personal objects behind, such as bags or luggage.

For customers with disabilities and customers unable to self-evacuate:

• TTC operators will kneel vehicles and/or deploy ramps/lifts for customers who may be unable to self-evacuate from vehicles, including customers who use a mobility device, and/or have mobility restrictions or other disabilities.
• Should customers need further assistance, operators or other TTC personnel will seek to determine what assistance may be required and provide it if safe to do so, particularly in the event a ramp/lift cannot be used during an emergency situation or if a vehicle does not have a kneeling function or a ramp/lift (e.g. older streetcars).
• Operators or other TTC personnel will advise appropriate TTC personnel or emergency services personnel about customers who need further assistance and depending on the circumstances, it may be necessary to wait for emergency services personnel to attend and provide assistance.
• In the event it is not possible to wait for emergency services personnel, operators or other TTC personnel will provide assistance to help customers get off vehicles and to reach a safe location. It may be necessary in these circumstances to leave customers’ mobility devices onboard the vehicles.

• Remain calm.
• Listen for public address announcements from TTC or emergency services personnel.
• Follow instructions provided by TTC or emergency services personnel.
• It may be necessary to leave large personal objects behind, such as bags or luggage.

For customers with disabilities and customers unable to self-evacuate:

• Wheel-Trans operators will kneel Wheel-Trans buses and deploy their ramps/lifts for customers who may be unable to self-evacuate, including customers who use a mobility device, and/or have mobility restrictions or other disabilities.
• Customers using mobility devices will typically be evacuated with their devices, if it is safe to do so. Otherwise, mobility devices may be left behind on a Wheel-Trans bus.
• Wheel-Trans operators will ensure that customers are accounted for and remain in a safe area, away from the Wheel-Trans bus.