Yes, you can bring a dog on a train, but size rules vary by country. Amtrak takes only small dogs and cats, up to 20 lb with the carrier, on trips of up to 7 hours. VIA Rail has a seasonal baggage-car option for bigger dogs. In the UK and most of Europe, large dogs ride on a lead.
Key facts
- Amtrak: one dog or cat per passenger, 20 lb maximum for pet and carrier together, trips of 7 hours or less.
- Amtrak's carrier limit is 19 x 14 x 10.5 inches, and the fee is charged per segment (for example, $29 on the Pacific Surfliner).
- VIA Rail: pets up to 10 kg (22 lb) with carrier in Corridor passenger cars for $50 plus tax per direction. Larger dogs can ride in the baggage car on select routes, but not from May 1 to September 30.
- UK National Rail: up to two dogs per passenger travel free, on a lead.
- Eurostar doesn't carry pets to or from London; only guide and assistance animals are allowed on those trains.
Can you bring a dog on an Amtrak train?
Yes, if it's small. Amtrak accepts dogs and cats in a carrier on most routes, as of October 2026. The rules from Amtrak's pet page:
- Weight: 20 lb maximum for the pet and carrier combined.
- Trip length: up to 7 hours of total travel time, including transfers.
- Carrier: hard or soft sided, leak-proof and ventilated, no bigger than 19" long x 14" wide x 10.5" high. Your pet has to sit and lie down inside without touching the sides. The carrier counts as one of your carry-on items.
- Numbers: one pet per passenger and one pet per carrier.
- Age: at least 8 weeks old, with vaccinations up to date.
- Where it rides: under your own seat (not the seat in front), in Coach or Acela Business Class. Pets aren't allowed in Acela First Class, sleeping rooms, non-Acela Business Class or food service cars.
Amtrak doesn't carry pets as checked baggage.
Which Amtrak trains don't take pets?
Pets can't ride on the Auto Train, Gold Runner or Amtrak Connection services. Pets can't travel on the Canadian sections of the Adirondack, Maple Leaf or Amtrak Cascades. Some routes, including Amtrak Cascades, Hiawatha and Wolverine, put pets in one designated coach car.
How much does it cost to take a dog on Amtrak?
Amtrak says the fee varies by route and shows it in the price summary when you book, and that it applies to each travel segment. Amtrak's state partners publish their amounts: the Pacific Surfliner charges $29 per pet reservation (or 1,000 Guest Rewards points), and NC By Train lists $29 for trips within North Carolina and $39 to stations outside the state.
How to book a pet on Amtrak
- Add the pet when you book your ticket. Space is limited (five pets per train on the Pacific Surfliner).
- Sign the Pet Release and Indemnification Agreement for each segment. It appears at the end of booking and under "My Trip" in the app.
- At a staffed station, check in at the ticket office 45 minutes before departure. At unstaffed stations, the conductor checks your paperwork on board.
Are dogs allowed on VIA Rail trains in Canada?
In the passenger car (Corridor only)
Small dogs and cats can travel with you in Economy or Business on Corridor trains between Québec City and Windsor. The carrier goes under the seat in front of you and must not exceed 55 x 40 x 27 cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 10.5 in). Pet and carrier together can't weigh more than 10 kg (22 lb). The fee is $50 plus taxes per direction. You can also buy the seat next to you so the carrier can sit on the floor in front of it; check with VIA whether the pet fee still applies. You must book at least 48 hours ahead, and pets must be at least 12 weeks old. VIA doesn't accept pit bull-type dogs.
In the baggage car (bigger dogs)
Cats and dogs can travel in a hard-sided, locked crate in the baggage car on select long-distance and regional routes, also for $50 plus taxes per direction. VIA sets no weight limit, but staff won't lift more than 32 kg (70 lb) of dog and crate combined, so you may have to load it yourself. The crate can be at most 83 cm (33 in) tall.
Most baggage cars are heated but not air-conditioned, so VIA doesn't accept pets in them from May 1 to September 30. You're responsible for feeding and watering your dog, and you need staff permission to visit the baggage car. Confirm that your train offers the service before booking.
Are there large-dog-friendly trains?
Not in the US: Amtrak's 20 lb limit rules out most dogs. Europe is the exception. Large dogs ride in the passenger cars of most national railways, usually on a lead and often muzzled. No US or Canadian airline lets a large pet dog fly in the cabin (see airlines that allow large dogs in the cabin).
Dog-friendly trains in the UK and Europe
UK (National Rail)
Under the National Rail Conditions of Travel (valid from July 30, 2026), you can take up to two dogs or other small domestic animals free. Dogs must stay on a lead in stations and on the train. Other animals must travel in a closed carrier no bigger than 85 x 60 x 60 cm. Animals aren't allowed on seats, or in buffet or restaurant cars unless they're assistance dogs. Train companies can add their own conditions, and sleeper trains have separate rules, so check before booking.
Eurostar
Eurostar doesn't take pets on trains to or from London, between Brussels or the Netherlands and Lille, or on its Sun and Snow routes. On Eurostar's other routes between Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands, pets under 6 kg travel free in a carrier up to 45 x 30 x 25 cm. Larger dogs need a €30 dog fare and must be leashed and muzzled.
Germany (Deutsche Bahn)
Pets up to the size of a house cat travel free in a closed carrier that fits under the seat or on the rack. Larger dogs pay half the fare (half the Flexpreis or Sparpreis on long-distance trains), and must be on a lead and wear a muzzle. Dogs can't have seat reservations.
France (SNCF)
On TGV INOUI and Intercités trains within France, a small pet in a carrier up to 45 x 30 x 25 cm costs €10, and a dog on a lead also costs €10 but must be muzzled for the whole journey.
Train vs. plane: dog rules compared
| Operator | Size limit | Fee | Main restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak (US) | 20 lb pet + carrier; carrier 19 x 14 x 10.5 in | Varies by route, per segment (e.g. $29) | Trips up to 7 hours; 1 pet per passenger; Coach and Acela Business only |
| VIA Rail, passenger car | 10 kg (22 lb) pet + carrier; 55 x 40 x 27 cm | $50 + tax per direction | Québec City–Windsor Corridor; book 48 hours ahead |
| VIA Rail, baggage car | No weight limit; crate up to 83 cm tall | $50 + tax per direction | Select routes; not May 1–Sept 30 |
| UK National Rail | Any size dog on a lead | Free (up to 2) | No animals on seats; operator rules may apply |
| Eurostar | Under 6 kg in carrier free; larger dogs need a ticket | €30 for larger dogs | No pets to or from London |
| Deutsche Bahn | Any size; large dogs leashed and muzzled | Free in carrier; half fare for large dogs | No pets to or from UK, Ireland, Norway |
| SNCF (TGV INOUI) | Any size; dogs on a lead muzzled | €10 | Other passengers must agree |
| US airlines, cabin | Must fit under the seat | $50–$150 each way | See every airline's rules |
Fees and rules as published by each operator, checked October 2026.
A dog small enough for Amtrak is usually small enough for a plane cabin; compare limits with the carrier size checker. For bigger dogs in North America, the choices are VIA's baggage car outside summer, the hold on the few airlines that still offer it (see flying pets in cargo), or driving.
Questions people ask
Can dogs travel by train in the US?
Yes, on Amtrak, if the dog and its carrier weigh 20 lb or less and the trip is 7 hours or shorter. Larger dogs can't ride Amtrak unless they are service animals.
Can my dog sit on the seat on a train?
Usually not. Amtrak and VIA Rail require the carrier under the seat, UK National Rail bans animals on seats, and Deutsche Bahn doesn't sell seat reservations for dogs. On VIA Rail, buying the seat next to you lets the carrier sit on the floor in front of it.
Can I take my dog on the Eurostar to London?
No. Eurostar doesn't carry pets on trains to or from London, only guide and assistance dogs and cats, and you must contact Eurostar at least 24 hours before travel.
Do dogs travel free on UK trains?
Yes. National Rail lets each passenger take up to two dogs or other small domestic animals free, as long as dogs stay on a lead and off the seats.
Do service dogs follow the same rules?
No. Amtrak, VIA Rail, Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn all carry trained service or assistance dogs free, outside the pet limits.
Sources
- Amtrak: Pets on trains
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner: Pets on board
- NC By Train (NCDOT): Pets
- VIA Rail: Travelling with pets
- National Rail: National Rail Conditions of Travel (July 2026), condition 24
- Eurostar: Travelling with your pet
- Deutsche Bahn: Hunde und andere Haustiere im Zug mitnehmen
- SNCF Voyageurs: Travelling with your pet
