National Rail’s pet page says passengers can bring up to 2 animals on a train at no extra charge. National Rail also publishes its Conditions of Travel, and the edition read for this article applies from 30 July 2026. The two documents are worded differently in places, and train companies add their own pages. This article sets them side by side, with Avanti West Coast and Transport for Wales (TfW) as examples, then covers Blue Cross’s advice on getting a dog used to trains. The Conditions state that they apply to travel within Great Britain only.
Two animals free, unless a train company says otherwise
The pet page says up to 2 animals can travel free, and that bringing more may mean an additional fee, with the train company the one to ask. The Conditions of Travel (section 24.1) allow up to two dogs or other small domestic animals free of charge, unless a train company has set out special conditions for its own services. Those conditions, the Conditions add, are made available when buying a ticket in advance and are shown on the company’s website.
Company pages show how that plays out. Avanti West Coast says up to two domestic pets travel at no extra charge and additional pets can be booked for £5 each. TfW’s FAQ gives a maximum of two per passenger in its answers on dogs and on cats or other small animals.
Leads and carriers: two wordings from National Rail
On dogs, the pet page asks passengers to keep a dog on a lead or in a pet carrier, “whichever you and your furry friend prefer”, both on the train and at stations. The Conditions of Travel (24.4) say dogs must be kept on a lead throughout the journey, including any part of station property. They do not repeat the carrier alternative in that clause.
On other animals, such as cats or birds, the pet page says to use a pet carrier or similar, rigid and not open, in which the pet can stand and lie down comfortably. The Conditions (24.3) call for a fully enclosed basket or pet carrier that lets the animal stand and lie down in comfort, with dimensions not exceeding 85 x 60 x 60 cm, and say an animal too large for a carrier of that size may not be conveyed by train. Clause 24.4 adds that animals other than dogs must not be taken out of their carriers.
The two company pages lean towards the pet page’s version for dogs. Avanti says dogs must be kept on a lead at all times in stations and on trains unless they are in a carrier, and TfW says dogs must be on a lead unless contained in a basket. These pages do not say which wording governs, so arrangements can differ.
Seats, buffet cars and escalators
Both National Rail documents bar animals from seats; the Conditions say not in any circumstances. TfW says animals and containers must not occupy seats or a charge will be made. Avanti asks that carriers are not put on seats or tables, for hygiene and allergy reasons.
Animals other than assistance dogs may not go into buffet or restaurant cars, the Conditions say, unless the train company specifically allows it. The pet page also says dogs must not be allowed to stand on escalators and must be carried.
Sleepers, replacement buses and refusals
The pet page says pets are welcome on sleeper trains, with an extra charge for a heavy-duty clean for dogs, except for assistance animals, and tells passengers to check with the train company. The Conditions (24.5) say special conditions apply to animals in sleeper cabins and that the company must be contacted before booking.
On rail replacement buses, TfW says dogs are normally not permitted except guide dogs, and Avanti says assistance dogs are always allowed but pets cannot be accommodated.
Not every animal can travel. The Conditions say livestock and non-domestic animals cannot be carried in any circumstances, and that staff may ask for a dog or other animal causing a nuisance or inconvenience to be removed. The pet page lists livestock such as pigs, sheep and goats among animals not permitted, along with any animal that may inconvenience passengers by size or behaviour. It also says assistance dogs always ride free under the Assistance Dogs Travel Scheme.
Getting a dog used to the train: Blue Cross’s steps
Blue Cross’s page on dogs on trains was published on 20 March 2019. Its summary of the rules pre-dates the 2026 Conditions, so the rules above come from National Rail and the companies. The charity’s training advice is a different matter. It says to introduce a dog to the train in short bursts, starting in the ticket hall and rewarding the dog for sitting or looking at ease, then walking through the ticket barriers with treats or strokes. Once a dog seems confident, it suggests a first journey to the next station, closely watching the dog’s reaction and building up the time on trains from there.
Its other tips include trying to get a seat with space so the dog can sit or lie on the floor beside you, avoiding rush hour, waiting for the next train if the carriage is too full, and carrying water on long journeys.
Blue Cross lists behaviours to watch for, including excessive panting, pacing, a tucked tail, vocalising and chewing the lead, and says to decide whether to remove the dog from the situation if they persist or increase. It also says dogs can quickly become overheated and that stress and anxiety can add to this. Avanti’s tips say public transport can be hot for pets even in winter, and suggest bringing water and poo bags.
The bottom line
National Rail’s pet page and its July 2026 Conditions of Travel both allow up to two animals free, bar animals from seats, and make leads or carriers part of travel with a dog, but they word those points differently. Train companies can set their own conditions, and Avanti and TfW do so in places. The Conditions say a company’s special conditions are shown on its website, so the page of the company being travelled with is the place to check before the journey.
Sources
- Train Travel with Pets, National Rail, page undated, read 1 November 2026 (nationalrail.co.uk)
- National Rail Conditions of Travel from 30th July 2026, section 24, National Rail, read 1 November 2026 (assets.nationalrail.co.uk)
- Train Travel With Pets, Avanti West Coast, page last updated 10 June 2026, read 1 November 2026 (avantiwestcoast.co.uk)
- On board FAQ, Transport for Wales, page undated, read 1 November 2026 (tfw.wales)
- Taking dogs on trains, Blue Cross, page published 20 March 2019, read 1 November 2026 (bluecross.org.uk)