Travelling on Amtrak with Cats and Dogs

Only recently has Amtrak started to permit domesticated cats and dogs on trains. As of this time, bringing cats and dogs on board Amtrak trains is not available nationwide. With that noted, the pilot programs in which cats and dogs were introduced to train travel has been successful thus far. Therefore, the expectation is that the program will continue to grow across the United States.

Change in Law

For years, Amtrak indicated that it wasn’t able to permit cats and dogs on trains based on the contention that states had different laws regarding this issue. In other words, a train could travel through different jurisdiction on a particular run, come which permitted pets on trains, and others which did not.

The statute which permitted cats and dogs to travel with their owners on Amtrak is the Pets on Trains Act of 2013. The legislation was the brainchild of U.S. Representatives Jeff Denham and and Steve Cohen.

Two Pilot Programs

Once the law was changed permitting cats and dogs to board trains with their humans, Amtrak undertook a pilot program out of Chicago in 2014. The Chicago pilot program proved to be a solid success. The following year, Amtrak did a second pilot program in the Northeastern United States, which also proved to be successful.

First, there were a considerable number of people who took advantage of being able to travel with their cats and dogs. During a five month period of the Northeast Corridor, over 4,600 passengers brought a pet along. This generated an $500,000 for Amtrak. (Typically, a passenger is charged an additional $25 to bring a cat or dog on board a train.)

According to the CEO of Amtrak, the most important result of both pilot programs was found in the fact that no one complained about pets permitted on board. He noted that this surprised everyone involved in the pilot programs, believing that there would be a complaint or two associated with pets being allowed on board trains.

How the Program Works

Where the pets on board program is available, a passenger can reserve passage for a pet the same time a person buys a ticket for his or her self. Generally speaking, Amtrak designates a car or two on each train in which pets will be allowed.

There is one limitation associated with pets on an Amtrak train. The train-line establishes maximum time on which a pet can travel on a particular trip. If a person is taking a longer trip, the overall journey can be broken up to stay within the mile cap. Right now, a continuous trip for a pet must be seven hours or less.

Pets must be under a certain size that permits the ability to travel with a train car. Pats are not permitted in baggage cars. Amtrak has no plan to permit pets in the luggage hold out of concern for a pet’s safety and other considerations.

In the 1970s, the train line did permit pets baggage cars. The service was suspended due to issues with climate control that resulted in the deaths of some pets who were placed in baggage cars.

The specifics about permissible pet size is available at the Amtrak website. Currently, there is a 20-pound limitation when it comes to cats and dogs on trains. With that said, because of the success of the program thus far, passengers have been lobbying Amtrak to up the weight of pets that can be brought on a train.

In addition, because the program is still in its early stages, the website is a good resource to ascertain if there have been any policy or procedure changes associated with pets on board trains.

Check In With Cats and Dogs

When a passenger checks in at an Amtrak terminal with a line or lines that permit pet travel, the individual must sign a waiver before a cat or dog will be permitted on a train. The waiver affirms that the pet is in good health, up to date on vaccinations, and is well behaved. There is something of an honour system associated with the program and the temperament of pets who travel. For those cats and dogs who have a disability, Handicapped Pets is a great source for dog wheelchairs and harnesses to make your journey easier.

A cat or dog is not permitted to move about an assigned train car. Rather, a pet must ride in an appropriate carrier. Depending on the route of a particular train trip, there can be stops along the way that do permit at least a bit of time for a pet to be taken off the train to stretch, eat, and tend to his or her “business.”