Amtrak is a passenger railroad service that provides medium- and long-distance intercity service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United States and to nine cities in Canada. It serves more than 500 destinations in 46 states and three Canadian provinces. If you’re planning to travel with pets on Amtrak, have a good look at Amtrak’s pet policy first.
What is Amtrak’s pet policy?
Amtrak welcomes dogs and cats up to 20 pounds (combined weight of pet and carrier) for trips up to seven hours on most routes. Only dogs and cats are allowed to travel as pets. Your pet must be at least eight weeks old. Pets are only allowed in Coach Class and Acela Business Class. Reservations are limited to one pet per customer. Pets should remain entirely inside a closed carrier while in stations and onboard trains and must remain with you at all times.
What is an approved pet carrier on Amtrak?
The pet carrier may be hard or soft sided but must be leak proof and well ventilated. Only one pet per carrier permitted. Maximum weight of pet with carrier is 20 pounds. The maximum size for pet carriers is 19″ long x 14″ wide x 10.5″ high. Your pet must be able to sit, lie down and remain entirely inside without touching the sides of the carrier. The pet carrier counts as one piece of carry-on baggage. Onboard, place your pet carrier under your seat (not under the seat in front of you), except on Amtrak Cascades trains where you can put your pet carrier on the floor in front of the seat next to you.
Are pets allowed on all Amtrak trains?
Not all Amtrak trains allow pets, and some trains don’t accept pets on all services. For example, if travelling between New York and Washington, the Northeast Regional trains accept pets on all services. However, the Acela Express only accepts pets on weekend and holiday services, while some other trains don’t allow pets anytime.
Pets are permitted in Coach Class and Acela Business Class (pets are not allowed in Sleeping cars, non-Acela Business Class, food service cars or other accommodations). Reservations with pets are limited to seven hours total travel time, including transfer time between trains on multiple-segment trips.
Some routes designate a specific Coach car for pets: Amtrak Cascades, Carl Sandburg, Illinois Zephyr, Illini, Lincoln Service, Saluki, Pere Marquette, Wolverine, Blue Water, Hiawatha and Missouri River Runner. On other pet friendly routes, you and your pet may ride in any Coach car.
Pets are not allowed on the following Amtrak routes and trains: Capitol Corridor (between San Jose, CA, and Auburn, CA); Keystone Service (between New York City and Harrisburg, PA); Pennsylvanian (between New York City and Pittsburgh, PA); San Joaquins (between San Francisco Bay Area and Bakersfield, CA); and on the Auto Train (between Lorton, VA, and Sanford, FL). You cannot take your dog into Canada on the Adirondack, Maple Leaf, and Amtrak Cascades routes. Dogs are not allowed on Amtrak’s Thruway services.
Which Amtrak trains in Canada allow pets?
Pet travel by train in Canada is not available on Adirondack, Maple Leaf and Amtrak Cascades; not available on Auto Train, Keystone Service, Pennsylvanian, San Joaquins, Capitol Corridor Pacific Surfliner or Thruway Connecting Services.
Do trains make stops along the way and are there pet walk areas?
If the train schedule permits, you may walk your pet or service animal at station stops provided that you stay within reasonable proximity to the train and re-board promptly when the conductor notifies you that the train is about to depart. If you plan to walk your animal during the trip, please notify the conductor when you first board the train. Some routes may have limited or no stops for the duration of your trip, so please check schedules before you make your travel plans.
How much does it cost to bring a pet on Amtrak?
Pet fees range $29 to $39 from depending on the route.
Do I need a reservation for my pet to travel on Amtrak?
It is very important that you make a reservation for your pet. There’s a maximum of five pets per train, so be sure to make your pet reservations well in advance of your trip.
How do I make a booking?
Follow the steps on Amtrak.com homepage to start the booking process. To add a pet fare, first book a regular Amtrak ticket, after which you have a couple of options. One is to go to Amtrak and click “Modify Trip” in the top right-hand corner. From there, you’ll be able to add your pet and pay the necessary fee. Alternatively, you can call Amtrak customer service at +1 (800) 872-7245, and pay over the phone. Please note: Don’t book your pet on a Business Class car; pets are only allowed in Coach Class. Pets cannot be booked with multi-ride tickets, Thruway Connection Services or with unaccompanied minors.
What paperwork do I need to travel with my pet?
Amtrak’s Pet Release and Indemnification Agreement is the form you must fill out prior to bringing your pet on board and for each travel segment. At staffed stations, check in at the ticket office no later than 30 minutes before departure to complete the pet release paperwork. At unstaffed stations, the conductor will confirm pet eligibility and provide you with the document to sign.
Can pets travel as checked baggage on Amtrak?
Amtrak does not ship pets or allow them to travel as checked baggage – a pet must travel with a human.
