Amtrak has announced the expansion of a program allowing customers to travel with their pets. Small dogs and cats in carriers can join their owners on the Blue Water, Wolverine Service, Pere Marquette, Missouri River Runner Service and Hiawatha Service trains. Pet reservations are now being accepted for travel beginning Monday, May 2, on these state-sponsored routes in Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin.
More than 6,300 pets have traveled with their human companions around the country since a 2014 pilot program in Illinois was made permanent in 2015 and expanded to the busy Northeast Corridor last October. More locations were also added across the national Amtrak network earlier this year.
Dogs and cats must meet the following requirements:
- The maximum weight of pet including the carrier is limited to 20 pounds
- Owners can reserve a space for their pet for a $25 fee; limit one pet per passenger
- For the safety and comfort of all passengers, pets must remain in a carrier at all times and carriers must remain under the seat of that passenger.
- All five pet reservations are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis
Amtrak continues to welcome service animals on board at no charge.