Reservations are now available for travel beginning Monday, October 12.
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After successfully launching the program in Illinois, Amtrak made a decision to bring this to the East Coast.
The pilot program will be expanded along the Northeast Corridor and New England.
Joe Boardman in a statement.
Amtrak will designate one auto on passenger trains for pets and there will be reasonable requirements for pet owners who take advantage of the policy, such as keeping the pet in a kennel or carrier on trips shorter than seven hours and paying a fee that covers the costs.
Amtrak announced Thursday that small pets will be allowed on Northeast Regional trains, whose Virginia stops include Lynchburg, Newport News and Norfolk.
The carrier and pet can not weigh any more than 20 pounds and must be placed under the owner’s seat. Pets must be at least eight weeks old with current vaccination records.
The move, described as a pilot program, follows a successful similar program on trains in Illinois. Passengers must arrive 30 minutes prior to train departure to check-in at a ticket counter and sign a pet waiver form.
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The agency said its policy on service animals, which are allowed on trains with no additional charge, is unchanged.
