Want to take Amrak on a hiking excursion and bring your dog, too? Forget about it.
Not many people know that Amtrak does not allow pets on trains, whether in the passenger compartment or as checked baggage. This is absurd, given that pets have always been allowed on airlines.
A bill proposed in Congress this week would require Amtrak to let passengers bring their dogs on trains. The bill is by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., and it's long overdue
The bill includes the following basic limitations, which are quite reasonable:
- One car on each train would be designated for travelers with pets (dogs & cats)
- Pets could travel with passengers in this car if they fit in a portable kennel that conforms with Amtrak's size limits for carryon baggage.
- Larger pets in kennels could travel as checked baggage.
- Pets would be permitted only when the passenger is traveling 750 miles or less.
What I don't find reasonable about the bill is that passengers with pets would have to pay an extra fee. To compensate for what additional expense on Amtrak's part? A fee might make sense for passengers traveling more than 750 miles, and only if that distance limit was also dropped from the bill. Otherwise, drop the fee requirement and move this bill along.
Posted with Blogsy
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