• Planning & Booking
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• Accessibility and Assistance
  • Reserving Accessible Space
  • Station Accessibility
  • Traveling with a Companion/Attendant
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  • Oxygen Equipment
  • Service Animals and Pet Policy
  • Meal Service for Customers with Disabilities
  • Thruway Motorcoach Service and Accessibility
• Policies
• Tickets, ID, Safety & Security
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Service Animals and Pet Policy

Animals Not Allowed Except for Service Animals

Amtrak does not permit pets on trains or Thruway services, in passenger areas of train stations, or in checked baggage.

The following are examples of types of animals that are not permitted:

• Comfort animals: Animals not trained to perform a specific task, but which are said to provide emotional support or to relieve anxiety simply by their presence (for example, by the passenger holding or stroking the animal).
• Pets: Animals for which no claim of any service is made.
• Search and rescue dogs:* Animals that are trained generally, but not to assist a particular passenger.
• Police dogs:* Other than dogs brought on trains by the Amtrak Police Department.

* If the passenger or agency feels an exception needs to be made for search and rescue dogs or police dogs, contact the Amtrak Police Department for assistance.

Only Service Animals Permitted

Service animals, however, are not considered pets, and are permitted in all areas where passengers are allowed. Service animals are animals that are trained to perform a specific task for the benefit of a person with a disability. You may be asked what task(s) your service animal performs for you.

Making Reservations with Service Animals

It is not possible to make reservations that include service animals on Amtrak.com. Call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) or TDD/TTY (1-800-523-6590) if you need to bring a service animal on your trip. Agents are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Control of Your Service Animal

You must keep your service animal under control at all times. The animal should always be on a leash, harness or other tether, unless either the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash or other tether, or the use of a harness, leash or other tether would interfere with the service animal's safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service animal must be otherwise under the handler's control.

Amtrak personnel may require you to remove your service animal en route or from the station premises if:

1. the animal is out of control and you do not take effective action to control it (for example, a dog causes a significant disturbance by barking repeatedly and uncontrollably or is not housebroken) or
2. the animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.

If you are asked to remove your service animal, but you would like to remain on the premises and/or continue travel without the animal, you must make arrangements for another person or local animal control to accept custody of your animal, and you may be required to continue or begin your Amtrak travel at a later time or on a later date.

Walking Your Service Animal

If the train schedule permits, you may walk your service animal at station stops provided that you stay within reasonable proximity to the train and re-board promptly when the conductor notifies you that the train is about to depart. If you plan to walk your animal during the trip, please notify the conductor when you first board the train.

Amtrak employees are not responsible for the care or supervision of any service animal.