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Traveling with pets

If your favorite animal is accompanying you on your trip, we offer a variety of options to help ensure they travel safely. Animals are sentient beings, so we want to make sure that they’re treated respectfully and travel comfortably while on board. To help us help your loyal friends, here are a few steps to follow.

In our trains

If your pet is small, it is possible to keep it close to you during the journey in a carrier that meets our carrier standards. Here is the information concerning the corridor train policy (Quebec City-Windsor). VIA Rail allows dogs and cats to travel in cars with their owners as long as the animals are small enough to fit comfortably in a carrier that meets our carrier standards.

If you are traveling with a guide, service or emotional support dog, please visit our Travel with a trained guide, service, or emotional support dog section.

How to book?

The reservation for your pet transport in the cabin can be made as soon as the ticket is purchased and up to two days before departure. It is strongly recommended that you notify us before departure, as places are limited and subject to availability only.

Passengers must advise us that they will be traveling with an animal by calling our call center at least two days before departure at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired).

Pet registration can also be done at a VIA Rail ticket counter, provided that two days’ notice is given.

Transport cage

In order to ensure the safety of your animal, you must make sure that the carrier is comfortable for the animal and that it complies with the applicable rules. In particular, it must prevent the animal from exploring the train and must not cause it unnecessary stress. Train travel should be enjoyable for everyone.

Anticipate your pet's needs

In case of delay, the passenger must anticipate the needs of his animal.
Make sure you bring enough food and water for your companion.
Before you go, help him relieve himself. To ensure a smooth trip, make sure it has everything you need to be comfortable.
It may be helpful to have pet pee pads inside the pet carrier in case your pet urinates. VIA does not provide these accessories

Guidelines to follow

VIA Rail accepts hard and soft-sided carriers.
The total weight of the carrier and animal must not exceed 10 kilograms (22 lb.).
Maximum carrier size permitted in a car:
Height: 27 cm (10.5 in)
Width:40 cm (15.5 in)
Length: 55 cm (21.5 in)
Only one pet is permitted per carrier.
Pet carriers must be leak-proof and well ventilated.
The pet must be able to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably.
No part of the pet may extend outside the pet carrier.

Note that VIA Rail employees may refuse traveller-supplied carriers that appear to be unsafe or inadequate and/or do not meet the stated standards.

Certain provinces and municipalities prohibit pit bulls. VIA Rail therefore does not allow this breed of dog system-wide.

Fees and conditions

The pet and its carrier are considered an addition to the carry-on baggage allowance and an on-board transporting fee applies.

In the Québec – Windsor corridor

$ 50.00 per direction (plus tax)

Additional space for your pet

If additional space is required, the passenger may purchase an additional seat at the applicable rate depending on availability at the moment of the reservation. The carrier can then be placed on the floor at the foot of the adjacent seat rather than at the passenger’s feet. The $50 fee will apply in addition to the price of the seat.

Specific conditions

The pet must be kept under control and must always be attended in the station and while on board the train.
The pet must always remain in the carrier.
The pet must remain on the floor at the passenger’s feet.
The pet must not be left unattended in any public or private area such as a washroom.
Under no condition can the pet carrier be placed on the seat.
Considering the shape and structure of the seats in our cars, animal carriers cannot be stowed under your seat or the seat in front of you. They

Pets in the Business lounge

Passengers traveling in Business class with their pets will be allowed in the VIA Business Lounges as long as the pet remains imperatively in a closed pet carrier and never left unattended.

Certain provinces and regions refuse pit bulls. As such, VIA Rail does not allow this breed of dog system-wide. Mix or cross breed pit bulls are not accepted.

Restrictions

Only small dogs and cats are permitted. Pets must be at least 12 weeks old and fully weaned.
A maximum of one carrier per passenger (12 years old and older) is allowed. Only one pet is permitted per carrier.
The total weight of the carrier and animal must not exceed 10 kilograms (22 lb.).
Pet travel is booked on a space-available basis. We accept a maximum of two pets in Economy and one pet in Business Class (does not include service and emotional support dogs).
The pet and its carrier are considered an addition to the permitted carry-on baggage allowance. Therefore, a pet on-board fee will apply.
The pet must remain imperatively in a closed pet carrier, very close to the passenger.
The passenger is responsible for transporting and keeping the pet in its carrier with them at all times throughout the journey.
In stations, for security reasons, the pet must wear a muzzle and be on a leash at all times when out of its carrier.
Passengers travelling with their pet must arrive at the station as follows:
Terminal Staffed Station: 1 hour before scheduled departure time.
Intermediate Staffed Station: 30 minutes before scheduled departure time.

VIA Rail may, at its sole discretion, refuse to transport any animals that appear to be unruly, aggressive, distressed and dangerous or that appear to be dangerous or in pain. As such, VIA Rail personnel may require the passenger to remove the animal en route or from the station premises if:

The animal is out of control and effective action is not immediately taken to control the pet (for example, a dog barking repeatedly and uncontrollably or that is not housebroken).
The pet poses a threat to the health or safety of others

Pets are prohibited from travelling with:

Unaccompanied minors
Passengers travelling with infants under the age of two years old
Passengers who require the use of a medical device at their seat, such as a CPAC machine, oxygen tank, etc.
Passengers with intermodal reservations
Passengers travelling on The Maple Leaf (Toronto – New York) Amtrak train.
Passengers already travelling with a service dog or an emotional support dog.* A support person may travel with a pet as long as they are able to aid both the pet and the passenger who requires assistance.

VIA Rail limits of liability

VIA Rail will not be held liable for the loss, delay, injury, sickness or death of any pet accepted for transportation.

On-board personnel may, where an animal is out of control or poses a threat to passengers, VIA Rail personnel, passenger or VIA Rail property or another animal, remove the animal from a train en route or from a station, as appropriate.

Travelling with your pet in the baggage car

If you need to register your animal, rest assured that our employees will take the best possible care of your animal.

Pets require special handling for checking, and minimal safety requirements must be adhered to when handling them.

Please be aware that baggage cars are heated, but that most are not air-conditioned. Your pet may therefore be exposed to high temperatures. From June 1 to September 30, baggage cars cannot transport animals due to lack of proper ventilation.

The following stations accept checked baggage but no pets

Amherst – Sackville – Matapédia – Mont-Joli – Rimouski – Rivière du loup – La Pocatière – Drummondville – St. Hyacinthe – St. Lambert

Travel restrictions

If you wish to travel with your pet, please let us know 24 hours in advance by calling 1 888 842-7245 or TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired). Be sure also to check in your pet at least one hour before departure.
Dogs, cats and small rodents (hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc.) are the only animals allowed in baggage cars. Birds cannot be checked.
Certain provinces and regions refuse pitbulls, therefore, VIA does not accept this breed of dog system wide. Mix or cross breed pit bulls are not accepted.
Please ensure that your pet has received all necessary care and vaccinations and has undergone an annual health check
Pets must be checked on the same train as their owner and be claimed immediately upon arrival.
Passengers must check their pets one hour before departure (but not much more, for the pet's comfort).
Dogs must be muzzled when outside of their cage. Once inside the cage, the dog must not be muzzled as it must be able to drink at all times. Furthermore, we ask that you provide a lock to help prevent your pet escaping from its cage during the trip
VIA reserves the right to refuse checking pets if unsafe.

Specifications and cost of transporting your pet in a baggage car

Soft cages are prohibited and only rigid cages (metal or hard plastic) are accepted.
Your pet must be able to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably.
Pet owners must provide their own cage. Cages can be purchased at larger pet shops.
Please note that VIA Rail reserves the right at check-in to refuse any animal that is judged to be a danger to the security of any or all travelers.
There is no weight limit for your animal. However, for safety reasons, VIA personnel will not transport animals and cages whose combined weight exceeds 32 kg (70 lb.). If your pet exceeds this limit, you are solely responsible for carrying your animal when boarding or disembarking from the train. In this case, a VIA employee can carry the empty cage.

Fares for transportation in the baggage car

Carrier	Price
Maximum height of accepted carriers (maximum of 33" / 83 cm high)	$50 plus taxes per direction on trains with baggage cars.

Passenger's responsibility

On long haul trains operated outside the Corridor (like the Toronto-Vancouver or Montreal-Halifax), customers are responsible for feeding, watering and exercising their pets. Customers must coordinate visit with the Service Manager on board, and the owner must be accompanied by an on-train services employee in charge when visiting the baggage car.

In the Québec-Windsor corridor, visiting the animal in the baggage car during the trip is not permitted due to the short trip time.

Don’t forget that you have to claim your pet as soon as you reach your destination!