Last month, Amtrak announced it has expanded its pets program to include additional routes in New York and parts of Vermont. According to the company’s official announcement, small dogs and cats can now travel on select trains for trips up to seven hours. The participating routes include the Empire Service, Adirondack, Maple Leaf and Ethan Allen Express. Amtrak opened reservations for pet travel on August 15, with service beginning August 22.
Amtrak first introduced its pets program in October 2015. Since then, more than 10,000 animals have traveled on the Northeast Corridor, and in July alone roughly 2,000 pets and their owners used the service. The program charges a $25 fee per pet and has generated over $1 million in revenue to date.
To ensure comfort and safety, the program includes several restrictions. Each pet and carrier together must weigh no more than 20 pounds. Pets are required to remain inside their carriers for the duration of the trip, and each train limits the number of pet reservations to five.
Officials said the expansion supports broader efforts to make rail travel more convenient for residents. “Rail service is an extremely important part of the transportation system in New York State and by allowing small pets on trains, we are making it easier for more people to travel via rail,” said Matthew J. Driscoll, commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation. He added that enabling pets on Amtrak is one more way government can serve the public.
