by Donald Wood
Last updated: 3:15 PM ET, Thu August 18, 2016
On Tuesday, Amtrak announced it would expand its pets program to include travelers on routes in New York and parts of Vermont.
According to Amtrak's official website, passengers will now be permitted to travel with their dogs and cats on trips of up to seven hours in length on the Empire Service, Adirondack, Maple Leaf and Ethan Allen Express trains in the northeast.
Reservations for pets began on Aug. 15 and travel will be permitted starting on Aug. 22.
Since the pets program was adopted by Amtrak in October 2015, more than 10,000 animals and their human counterparts have traveled on the on the Northeast Corridor. In July alone, 2,000 pets and owners traveled with Amtrak.
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The pets program-which costs $25 for one reserved pet ticket-has generated more than $1 million in revenue for the company since it was implemented. The program does have some restrictions, though, including the animal and carrier can only weigh up to 20 pounds, pets must remain in a carrier at all times, only five pet spots are allotted per train and more.
"Rail service is an extremely important part of the transportation system in New York State and by allowing small pets on trains, we are making it easier for more people to travel via rail," New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll said in a statement. "Governor Cuomo has always maintained that government should work for the people, and allowing pets on Amtrak trains is one more way to do just that."
For a full list of rules and regulations, check out Amtrak's pets program webpage.
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