Dog Tickets

Masboroughlad · 12 Feb 2019

Is it still OK to travel on a train with your pet dog?

Are there any restrictions?
Are there any conditions?
Can they travel in first class?
What is the cost? Flat fare?
How do I buy a ticket? On board, ticket office?
Can you buy them on line?

Any more advice for travelling with dogs?

RailUK Forums

ForTheLoveOf · 12 Feb 2019

Masboroughlad said:
Is it still OK to travel on a train with your pet dog?

Are there any restrictions?
Are there any conditions?
Can they travel in first class?
What is the cost? Flat fare?
How do I buy a ticket? On board, ticket office?
Can you buy them on line?

Any more advice for travelling with dogs?

There may be restrictions on certain services, but AFAIK, subject to the dog being reasonably sized and well-behaved, it is permitted on most services without extra charge or ticket. You need to pay a deep-cleaning fee if you have your dog in your sleeper cabin, though.

6Gman · 12 Feb 2019

So long as it, and you, behave - no problem.

Keep it off the seats though.

Please.

Masboroughlad · 12 Feb 2019

He's a very well behaved, 13 year old Border terrier. My Mum's little dog. Was hoping to plan a day trip to the coast for us all as a Mother's Day present. He will happily fall asleep under the table

Thanks for the advice.

6Gman · 12 Feb 2019

Just be very careful around the operating railway, especially getting on/off the train. We don't want any accidents.

James H · 12 Feb 2019

Some preserved railways issue dog tickets. I once bought one on the SVR for someone's imaginary chihuahua.

Intermodal · 13 Feb 2019

The National Rail Conditions of Travel has this to say:

24.1 You may take up to two dogs or other small domestic animals free of charge with you unless a Train Company has set out any special conditions relating to their own train services. In such cases these conditions will be made available when buying your Ticket in advance, and will be shown on the Train Company’s website.

No ticket is required for the 2 dogs that are free, and you do not need to reserve a space for them. It is courteous to keep them off the seats.

Otherwise you can be charged for an AAA ticket (Accompanied Animals and Articles). I can't remember the exact price of these, and I hope someone can confirm, but I believe they are 25% of the ticket price up to a maximum of £5 or £10. This would be charged per dog over the limit (so 4 dogs, 2 free, 2 have a ticket). In practice though most guards will allow you to take more than 2 small dogs and only charge you if the train is busy. You can buy these tickets at the ticket office, but frankly I would not bother unless the guard on the train wants to sell you one as I am not aware of any penalty for not purchasing one beforehand.

I do not know of any TOCs that restrict travel for dogs. What TOC are you planning to travel on? The relevant information will surely be found on their website.

Other restrictions on dogs include (as again from section 24 of the NRCoT):

24.2 Animals, with the exception of blind or deaf persons’ assistance dogs, may not be taken into buffet or restaurant cars (including first class accommodation with at-seat meals service). Animals are not allowed on seats in any circumstances.

24.4 Dogs must be kept on a lead throughout your journey, including any part of station property; other animals must not be taken out of their baskets or pet carriers. If your dog or other animal causes a nuisance or inconvenience to other passengers, you may be asked to remove it from a train or railway premises by staff.

24.5 Special conditions apply to the carriage of animals in sleeper cabins. If you are considering taking an animal on a service with a sleeper cabin, you will need to contact the Train Company for details of these before you make your booking.

Paul Kelly · 13 Feb 2019

AAA tickets were abolished by RDG as of the end of November last year so it shouldn't be possible to buy one any more.

Modron · 13 Feb 2019

Resisting the urge to make a pun about dogs and 'deposits'...

They're welcome on most trains - had the pleasure of jointly 'dogsitting' a pug on a train to Pontyclun a few weeks back.

CaptainHaddock · 13 Feb 2019

Masboroughlad said:
Is it still OK to travel on a train with your pet dog?

Are there any restrictions?
Are there any conditions?
Can they travel in first class?
What is the cost? Flat fare?
How do I buy a ticket? On board, ticket office?
Can you buy them on line?

Any more advice for travelling with dogs?

Yes, you'll need to buy him a Rover ticket.

Thank you, I'm here all week. Try the veal.

boxy321 · 13 Feb 2019

Regarding the bit about 1st class and catering, the onboard staff were swooning after my friend's Rottweiler Henley when she took him on. I seem to remember them serving him some sausages while we got nothing! This wasn't a buffet car but at-seat service which isn't normally provided on the leg we were on.

bakerstreet · 13 Feb 2019

Do different restrictions apply at Barking? (Sorry even I am rolling my eyes)

Intermodal · 13 Feb 2019

Indigo2 said:
AAA tickets were abolished by RDG as of the end of November last year so it shouldn't be possible to buy one any more.

I purchased one in December - had no idea.

OwlMan · 13 Feb 2019

Indigo2 said:
AAA tickets were abolished by RDG as of the end of November last year so it shouldn't be possible to buy one any more.

Press release at time of abolition of AAA tickets. Note that the fee is still payable but the tickets are not in TIS

The use of Status AAA (Accompanied Animals and Articles) has declined to a point whereby the TOCs have agreed and decided to withdraw support for it. This will free up a range of status codes for use in other products. It will also remove little used functionality in TIS and simplify the accreditation process.
The products which are currently retailed at AAA status will be redefined by TOCs in PMS (Product Management System) as sundries, supplements or ticket types.

ian1944 · 13 Feb 2019

bakerstreet said:
Do different restrictions apply at Barking? (Sorry even I am rolling my eyes)

Or at Houndslow?

Paul Kelly · 13 Feb 2019

OwlMan said:
Note that the fee is still payable but the tickets are not in TIS

That is interesting. Do you how the clerk or guard/RPI taking the payment is supposed to account for it, if they can't issue a ticket?

Modron · 13 Feb 2019

ian1944 said:
Or at Houndslow?

This thread has gone to the dogs!

61653 HTAFC · 13 Feb 2019

ForTheLoveOf said:
There may be restrictions on certain services, but AFAIK, subject to the dog being reasonably sized and well-behaved, it is permitted on most services without extra charge or ticket. You need to pay a deep-cleaning fee if you have your dog in your sleeper cabin, though.

A recent video by the "All The Stations" team featured a group who had taken their rabbit on the Night Riviera, and included footage of the (admittedly well-behaved) bunny out of its carry case and sitting on a bunk. Would this group have been hit with a fee for this, I wonder?

To be fair, rabbits do leave a lot of droppings... but they're easier to deal with than dog-mess!

61653 HTAFC · 13 Feb 2019

bakerstreet said:
Do different restrictions apply at Barking? (Sorry even I am rolling my eyes)

Yes, and also on the HOWL... but not at Leeds!

LowLevel · 13 Feb 2019

I thought I'd died and gone to heaven a few months ago. I worked a regular walkers train and about 15 happy pooches boarded meaning I'd got some ears to scratch and heads to stroke at every other bay of seats - this guard is always more than happy to see them :lol:

Please be careful if you bring them though - I've had to catch dogs that have fallen down the gap before and remember that some people just don't like dogs and will become stressy just being in a confined space with them.

Modron · 13 Feb 2019

LowLevel said:
I thought I'd died and gone to heaven a few months ago. I worked a regular walkers train and about 15 happy pooches boarded meaning I'd got some ears to scratch and heads to stroke at every other bay of seats - this guard is always more than happy to see them

Please be careful if you bring them though - I've had to catch dogs that have fallen down the gap before and remember that some people just don't like dogs and will become stressy just being in a confined space with them.

This happened with me and my Mum (RIP) on a train to Bristol once - my Mum was bitten by a dog as a young child and was petrified of any dog to the point of having a panic attack, and when an elderly couple got on at Newport with their Yorkshire Terrier and sat opposite us she started to panic. Another passenger agreed to swap seats with my Mother, but the couple were fine with it and as I love animals the dog (Crawford) was fine with me.

I've never been bitten (touch wood) by a dog, and when out walking one or two will come up to me and jump up.

OwlMan · 13 Feb 2019

Indigo2 said:
That is interesting. Do you how the clerk or guard/RPI taking the payment is supposed to account for it, if they can't issue a ticket?

You don't expect the left hand to know what the right hand is doing do you? It is apparently up to each TOC but is should be in the sundries or supplements section without a ticket code.

talltim · 13 Feb 2019

Anyoone know the situation on the DLR, if you want to go to the Isle of Dogs?....

LowLevel · 13 Feb 2019

Modron said:
This happened with me and my Mum (RIP) on a train to Bristol once - my Mum was bitten by a dog as a young child and was petrified of any dog to the point of having a panic attack, and when an elderly couple got on at Newport with their Yorkshire Terrier and sat opposite us she started to panic. Another passenger agreed to swap seats with my Mother, but the couple were fine with it and as I love animals the dog (Crawford) was fine with me.

I've never been bitten (touch wood) by a dog, and when out walking one or two will come up to me and jump up.

I've had to deal with it myself. As long as the dog is behaving itself in an acceptable manner I'll always back up the dog (though of course if I can offer a sensible bit of assistance or compromise I will).

I believe dogs are very good at sensing when people aren't comfortable around them and this then stresses them out as well.

trainophile · 14 Feb 2019

Masboroughlad said:
He's a very well behaved, 13 year old Border terrier. My Mum's little dog. Was hoping to plan a day trip to the coast for us all as a Mother's Day present. He will happily fall asleep under the table

Thanks for the advice.

If he's under the table on a busy train, don't let him encroach on the person opposite's foot space. I have had a very indignant woman get funny with me because I asked her to move her large dog so I could put my feet on the floor! She had made sure she had her own leg room, so the dog was lying in my (reserved seat) foot space. She and it moved in the end.

tsr · 14 Feb 2019

I have several regular canine passengers in my area. For the most part, they do tend to actually help improve the atmosphere on the train, since people are marginally less likely to shout at the staff, or wind up each other, “if it could upset the dog”.

The more intelligent dogs are quite amusing to watch - they tend to know exactly where they are, and get very excited as the train gets nearer their stop... a few of them sometimes recognise different conductors as they come down the train and try to get a bit of attention from the ones who like animals :lol:

There’s one guide dog I know of who is a particularly cheerful soul and a little bit distractable, and pretty much insists on a bit of a fuss during a ticket check...

I’ve only ever had one significant complaint and that was because a fairly young dog was getting a bit agitated and barking on their first train trip. I got their owner to take it for a walk through a couple of the quieter coaches of the train, and sure enough, it was enough interest and distraction to calm it down.

AY1975 · 19 Feb 2019

talltim said:
Anyoone know the situation on the DLR, if you want to go to the Isle of Dogs?....

As far as I know you can take a dog on all forms of public transport in London, including the DLR, free of charge without restriction (except that on buses and taxis they are carried at the driver's discretion).

However, it is worth remembering that dogs (except assistance dogs) are not normally accepted on rail replacement buses. They are also not allowed on the Glasgow Subway or trams in Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester. They are allowed on the London Underground, London Tramlink, the Tyne & Wear Metro and trams in Edinburgh, but it is advisable to keep them on a lead at all times.

A few years ago dog owners in Manchester campaigned for dogs to be allowed on Metrolink, and Transport for Greater Manchester did a risk assessment but decided that, on balance, allowing them could create more problems than it would solve, so they stuck with the ban (even though they are allowed on buses and ordinary heavy rail trains).

adrock1976 · 19 Feb 2019

AY1975 said:
As far as I know you can take a dog on all forms of public transport in London, including the DLR, free of charge without restriction (except that on buses and taxis they are carried at the driver's discretion).

However, it is worth remembering that dogs (except assistance dogs) are not normally accepted on rail replacement buses. They are also not allowed on the Glasgow Subway or trams in Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester. They are allowed on the London Underground, London Tramlink, the Tyne & Wear Metro and trams in Edinburgh, but it is advisable to keep them on a lead at all times.

A few years ago dog owners in Manchester campaigned for dogs to be allowed on Metrolink, and Transport for Greater Manchester did a risk assessment but decided that, on balance, allowing them could create more problems than it would solve, so they stuck with the ban (even though they are allowed on buses and ordinary heavy rail trains).

Regarding Manchester Metrolink trams, I may have read on their own website (if my memory is not playing tricks on me) at some point that they do accept dogs if they are travelling to the vets or one of the animal hospitals. That would (or was) the only circumstance that they would accept dogs to be conveyed.

causton · 19 Feb 2019

As someone whose dog has fallen down the gap at St Albans Abbey (on the last 321-operated service, no less) but thankfully holding a tight grip on the lead, with assistance no injuries or worse, delays were caused! I would say do be extra careful :lol:

ian1944 · 19 Feb 2019

adrock1976 said:
Regarding Manchester Metrolink trams, I may have read on their own website (if my memory is not playing tricks on me) at some point that they do accept dogs if they are travelling to the vets or one of the animal hospitals. That would (or was) the only circumstance that they would accept dogs to be conveyed.

In 1997 I had a Guide Dog puppy for initial training, and was asked to give him a wide range of different travel experiences, e.g. bus, train, travelator at airport, lift in department store. One day we did Metrolink without knowing, or thinking of any restriction, nobody said anything (apart from a couple of hoodies who asked jocularly - I think - "is he a sniffer dog?"). The driver may not have noticed anyway, and no other staff appeared. Did the ban apply in those days?

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