Pets allowed on high-speed trains

Starting Tuesday, beloved furry friends can travel with their owners on the same high-speed train along the Beijing-Shanghai route, albeit in a designated logistics compartment.

The service on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway marks a first for China’s rail system. Cats and dogs are allowed on 10 train services running between five major stations: Beijing South, Jinan West, Nanjing South, Shanghai Hongqiao, and Hangzhou East.

Travelers need to book tickets through the 12306 website or app, the railway ticket and service booking platform, at least two days in advance.

Domesticated cats or dogs must be in good health, weigh no more than 15 kilograms, and stand no taller than 40 centimeters at the shoulder to be allowed onboard. Pet owners also need to provide a valid ID and a quarantine certificate for their pet.

While on the train, pets will stay in a compartment with good air circulation, proper humidity levels, and noise reduction and odor control measures. The pets will be monitored in real time, and railway staff will conduct on-site inspections every two hours and provide water, but feeding and mid-journey visits by owners are not permitted.

Passengers are advised to arrive at the station two to six hours before departure to complete the necessary check-in procedures. Pets can be collected within one hour after arrival, as owners will receive text messages or phone calls to pick them up.

Pricing is based on travel distance, with a 30% discount offered during the trial run. For example, transporting a pet on a journey under 1,000 kilometers normally costs 558 yuan (US$76), but owners only need to pay 360 yuan now.

For distances between 1,000 and 1,500 km — such as the 1,300-km route between Beijing and Shanghai — the standard rate will be 658 yuan, not much different from the passenger fare.

A second-class seat on the same high-speed route typically costs between 550 and 670 yuan. The pet train ticket also includes insurance coverage of up to 2,000 yuan.

The service is part of broader efforts to meet the growing demand for pet-friendly travel options. In China, updated regulations issued in July 2022 prohibit the carriage of live animals such as chickens or ducks on passenger trains, with some exceptions for slower trains in rural areas.

The idea for the new service emerged last year when the China Railway Customer Service Center launched a public survey to gauge interest in pet transportation. The campaign drew widespread attention on Chinese social media, generating millions of views and comments.

“We have received numerous inquiries from passengers who wish to take their pets alongside them on high-speed trains,” the center said in a statement at the time, adding that they were considering the feasibility of the service.

Shen Peilan, a Shanghai native living in Beijing with two cats, welcomed the move but expressed concerns about animal welfare. “It’s a great start, but I’m still a bit concerned about the safety of the pets, especially cats, who can get very stressed when confined with other animals,” Shen said. “I really hope that in the future, there could be a dedicated carriage where pets can stay with their owners.”

Shen said she typically leaves her cats in Beijing in the care of friends or boarding services while away on business trips or holidays.

Other pet owners applauded the new service. “I wish the service will be extended to cover more routes,” said a Shenzhen resident surnamed Liu. “It would be great if I can take my cat Oreo along when I visit my grandparents in Nanjing during the summer vacation.”