Can I Bring My Corgi on the Train? Every Train, Checked (2026)
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Can I bring my corgi on the train?
Rally is a corgi who rides the train, so of course we checked. Here's the honest answer for real corgis, train by train.
Checked .
Corgi checker
Your corgi, every train
We start with a typical adult Pembroke (24 to 30 lb). Switch to exact weight for your own corgi's answer.
The short answer
A full-grown corgi is usually too heavy for Amtrak's 20 pound carrier rule, but corgis can ride Metro-North on a leash, the MBTA outside rush hour, and dog-friendly scenic trains like the Skunk Train.
Why corgis are a tricky size
Corgis are big dogs on short legs. A Pembroke usually weighs 24 to 30 pounds and a Cardigan 25 to 38, heavier than they look. That puts them over the line for Amtrak (20 pounds with the carrier), VIA Rail's cabin (22 pounds with the carrier) and Brightline (under 25 pounds), and too big for most lap-carrier rules on city transit. They're also too small to be anyone's idea of a big dog, so owners are often surprised.
What about Rally in the book?
In Rally Takes the Train(opens in a new tab), Rally walks down the aisle, sits on the seat and leaves a trail of furry corgi glitter. That's storybook license. On the real Pacific Surfliner, the train in the book, a dog has to stay in a carrier under the seat, and the 20 pound limit includes the carrier, so a grown corgi like Rally couldn't make that exact trip. We'd rather tell you that than have your family find out at the platform.
Where a corgi can ride
- Metro-North: in a kennel or securely on a leash, no size limit published.
- MBTA: larger dogs on a leash outside weekday 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.
- Muni: off-peak, leashed and muzzled, on your lap or under the seat, with a fare for the dog.
- Skunk Train and Roaring Camp: dogs welcome on most rides.
- VIA Rail baggage car (October to April) and the Alaska Railroad: in a kennel, any size.
- Cleveland RTA: pets up to 25 pounds in a carrier, so a small corgi can make it.
- NYC Subway: in a bag or container you carry. Plenty of corgis ride in backpacks.
Tips for riding with a corgi
- Weigh your corgi in its carrier, not alone. Bathroom scale method: weigh yourself, then yourself holding the loaded carrier.
- Corgis shed. Bring a lint roller and a towel for the floor, and don't let the dog on the seats even where it's tempting.
- Long backs and steep train steps don't mix. Lift your corgi on and off rather than letting it jump, the way Dad gives Rally a boost up the stairs in the book.
Corgi train questions
Can I bring my corgi on Amtrak?
Usually not. Amtrak's limit is 20 pounds for the dog and carrier together, and adult Pembroke Welsh Corgis typically weigh 24 to 30 pounds (Cardigans 25 to 38). A corgi puppy, or an unusually small adult under about 16 pounds, could fit with a light carrier.
Which trains let a corgi ride on a leash?
Metro-North lets pets ride securely controlled on a leash, the MBTA allows larger dogs on a leash outside weekday peak hours (7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.), and the Skunk Train and Roaring Camp welcome dogs. Muni allows leashed, muzzled dogs off-peak on your lap or under the seat.
Can a corgi ride the NYC subway?
Only in a bag or other container that you carry without bothering other riders. The MTA doesn't publish a weight limit, and many corgi owners use a pet backpack. Leashed pet dogs can't ride the subway.
Can a corgi ride Brightline?
Only a small one. Brightline takes dogs under 25 pounds in a carrier no bigger than 17 by 10 by 10 inches, so most adult corgis are too big.
Is Rally a real corgi?
Yes. Rally is the family's own Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and the book's watercolor fur trail, the furry corgi glitter on page 3, is based on him.
- Checked at the sourceEvery rule on this page comes from the railroad's own website, not a pet blog.
- Re-checked oftenPet rules change. We note the date we last checked each one at the top of the page.
- A real corgiRally is the family's actual dog, which is why we care whether he'd fit under the seat.
Meet the corgi who started it
A five-minute, hand-painted picture book about a corgi's first train trip. $13.99 on Amazon.