In a lengthy letter to the Ottawa Citizen, pop singer Jann Arden noted that as a musician she travels for a living, usually accompanied by her 4-lb. Morkie (Yorkshire Terrier and Maltese) named Midi, which has been on more than 175 flights since it was just a 9-week-old pup.
Unaware that Via Rail had a ‘no pets in passenger cars’ policy, the Insensitive singer noted that none of the rail company workers said anything to her as she and her very visible dog boarded the train, and that in Europe “there are more dogs than people on the trains. It’s so interesting and fun. Everybody puts up with everybody else’s surroundings. It was never a problem.”
Part way through the journey, Arden was suddenly told that her dog Midi would have to travel in a cage, which they would pick up at the next stop, in the train’s heated baggage compartment.
However, the singer preferred to disembark and travel by car with her pooch. The singer-songwriter said goodbye to her travelling companions and told them she’d “get to Ottawa somehow. The show must go on…..Like I said, I travel 250 days a year….”
She didn’t know where she was being let off, and apologized later for stating she was in the “middle of nowhere,” explaining “it was not meant to be an insult to the fine people of Oshawa. If you saw the train station and where it is located, you’d know exactly what I meant…there is a car dealership and 10 acres of parking lot… the station is under construction. … I am sorry if i made it sound like I didn’t like Oshawa…”
So what are the rules when you’re traveling by train with your pet? The U.S. has the strictest policy and Europe the most lenient, while Canada falls somewhere in the middle.
Pet policies for train travel in North America and Europe
U.S. – Amtrak
Amtrak has a tough pet policy: only service animals are allowed on the train. They do not allow any other animals whatsoever, not even in the baggage car. End of story.
Canada – VIA Rail
Pets, excluding guide dogs, are not allowed in passenger cars. As long as they weigh less than 32 kg or 70 lb, dogs, cats, and small rodents must travel in the baggage car, which means aboard trains that offer checked baggage service. Service charges for transporting an animal range between $15 and $50, but will not exceed the cost of a ticket at the adult regular fare.
Europe – Eurail
In Europe, the rules for bringing pets differ by country, and sometimes even per train, however, on most trains, you’re permitted to bring along a smaller pet, as long as they don’t take up a passenger seat.
In most countries, you can bring along small animals in cages or boxes for free. Sometimes, you have to pay a small fare, depending on the size of the animal.
As a general rule, passengers may take dogs without a box or crate, provided they are on a leash and muzzled. Special provisions may be applicable to guide dogs for the blind.
Eurail suggests travelers check the websites of the national railway companies for information about bringing pets on board.