Amtrak to permanently allow small pets on some trains

Amtrak will begin allowing passengers to bring small pets on trains during weekends and holidays, the passenger rail system announced Thursday.

{mosads}The policy is being made permanent after Amtrak’s success with a pilot program that permitted small pets to accompany passengers on Acela Express trains for an extra fee.

“Amtrak announced today it has extended its pets program on Acela Express, allowing customers to continue traveling with their small pets on weekends and holidays only, just in time for families making summer travel plans,” Amtrak said in a statement.

More than 7,400 pets have traveled on board trains along the Northeast Corridor since the pilot program launched in October 2015, according to Amtrak. The top departure cities are Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

The policy requires an advanced reservation and a $25 fee each way, with the exception of service animals. Only one cat or dog is allowed in an enclosed carrier on trips lasting up to seven hours, and the pet and carrier combined must not weigh more than 20 pounds.