VIA Rail, Canada's national passenger railway, lets small cats and dogs ride with you in the passenger car on its Corridor trains between Quebec City and Windsor, for CAD 50 plus tax each way. The pet and its carrier together can weigh no more than 10 kg (22 lb), in a carrier up to 55 x 40 x 27 cm. On some long-distance and regional routes, larger cats and dogs can travel in the baggage car instead, but not between May 1 and September 30, because most baggage cars are not air-conditioned. VIA Rail does not accept pit bull-type dogs, and you must book the pet at least 48 hours before departure.
This guide follows VIA Rail's own travelling with pets page as read in October 2026. Rules can change, so confirm with VIA Rail before you travel.
VIA Rail pet rules at a glance
The table brings together the two ways a pet can travel on VIA Rail.
| Rule | In the passenger car | In the baggage car |
|---|---|---|
| Where it applies | Corridor trains, Quebec City to Windsor | Select long-distance and regional routes |
| Animals | Small cats and dogs | Cats and dogs |
| Fee | CAD 50 plus tax per direction | CAD 50 plus tax per direction |
| Weight | 10 kg (22 lb) pet plus carrier | No limit; staff will not lift over 32 kg (70 lb) |
| Carrier | Hard or soft, max 55 x 40 x 27 cm | Rigid plastic or metal, locked, max 83 cm high |
| Season | All year | Not May 1 to September 30 |
| Booking | At least 48 hours before departure, online or by phone | |
| Not accepted | Pit bull-type dogs; pets under 12 weeks | |
Pets in the passenger car: Corridor trains only
The pet-on-board service applies only to VIA Rail's Corridor services between Quebec City and Windsor, which take in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. Only cats and dogs are allowed, and only if they are small enough to travel comfortably in a carrier at your feet for the whole trip. The service is available in Economy and Business class on these routes.
The rules for an onboard pet are:
- One pet per passenger.
- Only small dogs and cats, at least 12 weeks old and fully weaned.
- No pit bull-type dogs, because of restrictions in some provinces and municipalities.
- The pet and carrier count in addition to your carry-on allowance.
If you are on a long-distance train outside the Corridor, such as the Canadian across the west, a cat or dog cannot ride in your seat area; the baggage car is the only option, and only on certain routes and outside the summer months.
The carrier for an onboard pet
VIA Rail staff inspect every carrier at check-in, and one that fails can mean the pet is refused. The requirements:
- The carrier must fit under the seat in front of you, with maximum dimensions of 55 x 40 x 27 cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 10.5 in).
- The pet and carrier together must not weigh more than 10 kg (22 lb).
- Hard-sided and soft-sided carriers are both accepted.
- No part of the animal, such as its nose or paws, can stick out.
- The pet must be able to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably.
- The bottom must be leak-proof and lined with pee pads or pet litter.
The carrier must never be placed on a passenger seat, and the pet stays inside it throughout the journey. Our guide to flying with a cat in the cabin covers getting a cat used to a carrier, and most of the advice applies just as well to a train.
Buying an extra seat for your pet
VIA Rail offers one useful option most airlines do not: you can buy the seat next to yours for extra space. The carrier then goes on the floor in front of that seat, and the CAD 50 pet fee is waived. The extra seat is charged at the fare available when you book, and you have to arrange it in advance through the VIA Customer Centre at 1-888-842-7245. It does not change the size and weight limits, but it gives you room to keep the carrier near you on a longer Corridor trip, such as Toronto to Montreal.
Who cannot travel with a pet on board
VIA Rail does not allow these passengers to bring a pet into the passenger car:
- Unaccompanied minors.
- Passengers travelling with an infant under 2 years old.
- Passengers who need a medical device at their seat, such as a CPAP machine or oxygen equipment.
If your trip connects with another carrier, VIA Rail's rules apply while you are on its trains, and the pet will not be accepted if the other carrier's rules are incompatible with VIA Rail's.
Your responsibilities on board
The pet stays under your supervision at all times, in stations and on the train, including during an evacuation. In stations, a pet taken out of its carrier must be on a leash and wear a muzzle where required. You cannot leave a pet unattended anywhere, including station facilities, lounges or washrooms, and you are responsible for making sure it does not disturb other passengers.
There are no scheduled stops for pet relief. VIA Rail asks you to exercise the pet and let it relieve itself before departure, and to bring enough food, water and pee pads for the whole trip, including any delays. Business class passengers can bring a pet into VIA's Business lounges if it stays in a closed carrier and is never left alone.
Pets in the baggage car
On select long-distance and regional routes, cats and dogs can travel in the baggage car on the same train as their owner. No other animals are accepted. Check that the service is available on your specific train before you plan around it.
The rules for the baggage car are:
- Book at least 48 hours before departure, online at viarail.ca or through the VIA Customer Centre.
- CAD 50 plus tax per direction.
- The pet must be at least 12 weeks old and weaned, with one pet per passenger and per carrier.
- No pit bull-type dogs.
- There is no weight limit, but VIA staff cannot lift a pet and carrier weighing more than 32 kg (70 lb). Above that, you carry it on and off the train yourself; staff can carry the empty carrier.
- The carrier must be rigid hard plastic or metal (no soft carriers), no taller than 83 cm (33 in), leak-proof and lined, with room for the pet to stand, turn and lie down, and locked so the pet cannot escape.
VIA Rail requires you to claim the pet promptly when you arrive at your destination station, so plan to go straight to the baggage area. Our guide to choosing a pet transport crate explains sizing.
The summer baggage car ban
VIA Rail's baggage cars are heated, but most are not air-conditioned, so pets can be exposed to high temperatures. To protect them, VIA Rail does not accept pets in baggage cars between May 1 and September 30, and it can adjust those dates depending on the weather. If you need to move a large dog by train in summer, VIA Rail is not an option; consider driving or a ground pet transporter. Our guide to pet transport in hot weather explains the risks.
Caring for a pet on a long-distance train
On long-distance routes outside the Corridor, you are solely responsible for feeding, watering and exercising a pet in the baggage car. You can only go into the baggage car with the authorization of the Service Manager, and an onboard employee must supervise. Bring enough food, water and supplies for the whole trip and any delays, and plan how you will check on the pet at longer stops.
When VIA Rail can refuse or remove a pet
VIA Rail can refuse a pet that seems unruly, aggressive, distressed or injured, or that poses a risk to anyone's safety or comfort. Staff can ask you to remove a pet from the train or station if it is out of control and you do not act quickly to fix it, for example a dog that keeps barking or is not house-trained, or if it is ill, injured or distressed. If that happens, you may get a refund for the unused part of the trip under the refund rules. If you want to stay or continue without the pet, you must arrange, at your own cost, for someone else or animal control to take it, and you may have to travel on a later train.
By booking a pet, you also accept VIA Rail's conditions: you are responsible for controlling it, you state it has never been aggressive, you agree to cover any damage or cleaning costs it causes, and you take on the risks of its transport.
Service dogs
The pet policy does not cover guide dogs, service dogs or emotional support dogs. VIA Rail has a separate policy for them, so read that page before booking if your dog is a trained assistance animal.
Crossing the border with a pet
VIA Rail's Corridor trains run within Canada. If your trip includes crossing into the US by another carrier, the US rules apply on arrival: dogs must be at least 6 months old, microchipped and travelling with a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. The CDC dog import page has the details, and our guide to pet transport from Canada to the US walks through them. Coming into Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's travelling with a pet page sets the rules, and our guide to pet transport to Canada summarizes them.
How the onboard pet program started
For years, pets on VIA Rail could only travel in the baggage car. VIA Rail announced in an August 2018 press release that it would start welcoming small cats and dogs on board its Corridor trains, and the program has since settled into the rules described here. That history explains why the onboard option is limited to the Corridor, where trips are short and trains are frequent, while long-distance routes still rely on the baggage car.
Getting your pet ready for the train
Trains are quieter than planes, but stations are busy and noisy. A week or two before the trip, leave the carrier open at home with a familiar blanket inside, feed treats in it, and practice short car rides with the pet zipped in. On the day, give a light meal a few hours before departure, a last walk or litter box visit, and keep a spare pad and a small bag of food in your hand luggage. If your pet is anxious, ask your vet for advice well in advance; do not try a new calming product for the first time on travel day.
A sample plan: Toronto to Montreal with a cat
- Weigh the cat in its carrier; the total must be 10 kg or less, and the carrier no larger than 55 x 40 x 27 cm.
- Book your ticket and add the pet at least 48 hours before departure, online or by phone.
- Decide whether to buy the seat next to you for extra room, which waives the CAD 50 fee.
- Line the carrier with a pee pad, and pack food, water and spare pads.
- At the station, keep the cat in the carrier and never leave it unattended.
Common mistakes with VIA Rail pet bookings
- Expecting to bring a pet into the passenger car on a long-distance train outside the Corridor.
- Planning a summer baggage car trip with a large dog.
- Using a soft carrier in the baggage car.
- Booking less than 48 hours before departure.
- Putting the carrier on the seat beside you.
VIA Rail compared with other options
For a short trip in Ontario or Quebec, a small pet on VIA Rail is usually simpler than flying. Porter takes small pets in the cabin on its flights from Toronto and Ottawa, and in the US, Amtrak has its own small-pet program. For long distances in summer with a big dog, driving or a ground transporter is often the better choice.