Amtrak Gives Your Pets A Ticket To Ride

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Amtrak is always looking for new customers--even four-legged ones.

Alex DeMetrick reports on Amtrak's new pet ridership program.

The bustle at Penn Station in Baltimore is primarily a human endeavor, but Amtrak is about to mix in animals. Passengers along the Northeast Corridor can now travel with their pets.

"Well, I'm an animal lover, so that's fine with me," said one woman.

"It doesn't really bother me, as long as the animal isn't disturbing the rest of the passengers on the train," said another.

"I'm not really in favor of it because a lot of people use it for business purposes," said Stephen Tatz. "I think it's a bit disturbing to have pets on a train."

That could be an issue, but Amtrak is hoping to calm it. First of all, no large dogs allowed--only one cat or one small dog per passenger in an enclosed carrier that fits under a seat, weighing no more than 20 pounds.

Reservations must also be made and passengers with pets must check-in at the ticket counter and pay a surcharge of $25.

Amtrak says its pet policy is a trial program and it will be evaluated in February. If it goes well, it will roll on.

Family pets aren't the first animals to ride Amtrak trains; service dogs have been doing it for years with no extra charge.