Bringing a Pet on the Train: Carriers, Fees, and Routes That Allow It

Amtrak permits small cats and dogs on most trains under 7 hours' scheduled time, including all Northeast Regional, Acela (since 2021), Pacific Surfliner, Cascades, Capitol Corridor, San Joaquins, Lincoln Service, Hiawatha, Wolverine, Pere Marquette, Empire Service, Maple Leaf, Vermonter, Downeaster, Hartford Line, Adirondack, Carolinian, Piedmont, Pennsylvanian, and Keystone Service trains. The pet must weigh 20 pounds or less in carrier combined; the carrier must be hard- or soft-sided, leakproof, and well-ventilated, with maximum dimensions 19″ × 14″ × 10.5″, fitting beneath the seat or in front of you.

The pet fee is $26 per pet per direction (subject to change), and reservations are required at the time of booking — Amtrak limits five pets per train (excluding Acela) and four per train on Acela. Long-distance trains, Auto Train, and trains operating in Canada (Maple Leaf north of Niagara Falls, Adirondack north of Plattsburgh, Cascades north of Bellingham) do not allow pets except service animals.

Service animals

Service animals trained to perform a task for a person with a disability travel free on every train, no advance notice required, no carrier required, no weight limit. Emotional support animals are not classified as service animals under ADA rules and are subject to standard pet rules.

Commuter rail

The major commuter operators handle pets variously. Metra permits pets in carriers off-peak. NJ Transit permits pets in carriers at all times. LIRR and Metro-North permit small pets in carriers under 20 pounds at the conductor's discretion. SEPTA, MBTA, and Caltrain all permit small carriers off-peak; service animals at all times.

Practical tips

Always book pet space at the time of seat reservation; pet inventory is small and sells out on summer weekends. Bring an absorbent pad, a leak-proof carrier liner, and a familiar blanket. Skip food in the carrier; offer water at station stops. A useful seasonal reference is the Pet-Friendly Train Travel Guide, which tracks operator policy changes and posts updated bag-and-carrier reviews.

Getting started? If this is your first long-distance trip, pair this guide with the first-time rider checklist and skim the field guide to station types for what to expect when you arrive.