An elevator trench drain includes a trench and a drain passageway. The trench has a base wall with peripheral side walls extending upwardly therefrom to define a trench volume therein. The drain passageway extends downwardly from the base wall of the trench and places the trench volume in fluid communication with a lower opening of the drain passageway. The drain passageway has a first section proximate the base wall defining a first cross-sectional area and a second section distal the base wall defining a second cross-sectional area. The second cross-sectional area is less than the first cross-sectional area and this reduction in cross-sectional area produces a head pressure that increases the flow out of the lower opening.