Can I Bring My French Bulldog on the Train? Every Train Checked (2026)
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Can I bring my French Bulldog on the train?
French Bulldogs are right on the line. They look small, but most weigh 16 to 28 pounds, which puts them over Amtrak's limit once you add the carrier.
Checked against each railroad's own rules on .
The short answer
Maybe on Amtrak: only a small French Bulldog (16 to 28 lb) that weighs about 16 pounds or less fits the 20 pound limit with a carrier. Across the 72 trains we checked, a typical French Bulldog is a yes on 5, a maybe on 48 and a no on 19.
Breed checker
Check your French Bulldog
We start with a typical French Bulldog. Switch to exact weight for your own dog's answer on every train.
Every train, checked for French Bulldogs
Sorted from yes to no. Results use typical adult weights for the breed and a 4 pound carrier; a lighter dog or carrier can turn a maybe into a yes.
French Bulldog (16 to 28 lb): yes on 5, maybe on 48, no on 19
| Train | Region | Can it ride? | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skunk Train | West Coast | Yes | Yes. Dogs are welcome on most Skunk Train rides for a dog fare ($10.95 on the Pudding Creek Express). Bring a leash, food, water and a dish. |
| Roaring Camp Railroads | West Coast | Yes | Yes on the Redwood Forest Steam Train and the Santa Cruz Beach Train. Dogs ride on the floor of the car. |
| Metro-North Railroad | Northeast | Yes | In a kennel or similar container, or securely controlled on a leash for the whole trip. |
| MBTA (the T) | Northeast | Yes | Small pets in carriers any time; larger dogs on a leash only outside weekday peak hours. |
| Alaska Railroad | Canada & Alaska | Yes | Any size, in a kennel in the baggage car. |
| Amtrak | Nationwide | Maybe | Only if your dog weighs about 16 lb or less. 20 lb limit including the carrier. |
| Pacific Surfliner | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog weighs about 16 lb or less. 20 lb limit including the carrier. |
| Capitol Corridor | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog weighs about 16 lb or less. 20 lb limit including the carrier. |
| Amtrak Cascades | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog weighs about 16 lb or less. 20 lb limit including the carrier. |
| COASTER | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| SPRINTER | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| Metrolink | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| San Diego Trolley | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| LA Metro Rail | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| BART | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| Muni Metro | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. Off-peak only, leashed and muzzled, with a fare for the dog. |
| SMART | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| VTA Light Rail | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| SacRT Light Rail | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| Sound Transit (Link and Sounder) | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Posted rule: small containers. Leashed dogs were approved but aren't in the posted rules yet. |
| TriMet MAX | West Coast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| RTD Denver Rail | Mountain West & Southwest | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| UTA TRAX and FrontRunner | Mountain West & Southwest | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| Valley Metro Rail | Mountain West & Southwest | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| New Mexico Rail Runner Express | Mountain West & Southwest | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| DART Light Rail | Texas & South Central | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| TEXRail (Trinity Metro) | Texas & South Central | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| Houston METRORail | Texas & South Central | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| Metra | Midwest | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. Off-peak weekday trains and all weekend trains only. |
| CTA 'L' Trains | Midwest | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| South Shore Line | Midwest | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| METRO Blue and Green Lines and Northstar | Midwest | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| Cleveland RTA Rapid | Midwest | Maybe | Only if your dog weighs about 25 lb or less. 25 lb limit for the pet, in a carrier. |
| NYC Subway | Northeast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| Long Island Rail Road | Northeast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| NJ TRANSIT Rail | Northeast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| PATH | Northeast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| CTrail Hartford Line | Northeast | Maybe | Only if your dog weighs about 16 lb or less. 20 lb limit including the carrier. |
| Amtrak Downeaster | Northeast | Maybe | Only if your dog weighs about 16 lb or less. 20 lb limit including the carrier. |
| Conway Scenic Railroad | Northeast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. Yes, one small, well-behaved dog per party, in Coach seating only, on a leash at your feet. |
| SEPTA | Mid-Atlantic | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| PATCO Speedline | Mid-Atlantic | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| WMATA Metrorail | Mid-Atlantic | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| MARC Train | Mid-Atlantic | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| Pittsburgh Regional Transit (the T) | Mid-Atlantic | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| Brightline | Southeast | Maybe | Only if your dog weighs about 25 lb or less. 25 lb limit for the pet, in a carrier. |
| Tri-Rail | Southeast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| SunRail | Southeast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| Miami-Dade Metrorail and Metromover | Southeast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| MARTA | Southeast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Carrier must fit on your lap or under the seat. |
| WeGo Star | Southeast | Maybe | Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. |
| New Orleans Streetcars | Southeast | Maybe | Only if your dog weighs about 20 lb or less. 20 lb limit for the pet, in a carrier. |
| VIA Rail Canada | Canada & Alaska | Maybe | Only if your dog weighs about 18 lb or less. 22 lb limit including the carrier. |
| Gold Runner | West Coast | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Caltrain | West Coast | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| ACE (Altamont Corridor Express) | West Coast | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Pacific Southwest Railway Museum | West Coast | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Niles Canyon Railway | West Coast | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Napa Valley Wine Train | West Coast | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Mt. Hood Railroad | West Coast | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Las Vegas Monorail | Mountain West & Southwest | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Grand Canyon Railway | Mountain West & Southwest | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad | Mountain West & Southwest | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Royal Gorge Route Railroad | Mountain West & Southwest | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| CapMetro Rail | Texas & South Central | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| St. Louis MetroLink | Midwest | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad | Midwest | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Strasburg Rail Road | Mid-Atlantic | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| LYNX Blue Line (CATS) | Southeast | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| The Tide (Hampton Roads Transit) | Southeast | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Great Smoky Mountains Railroad | Southeast | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
| Blue Ridge Scenic Railway | Southeast | No | Pets can't ride. Trained service animals only. |
Tips for riding the train with a French Bulldog
- Medium dogs are the hardest size for trains: too heavy for most carriers, too small for anyone to think of them as big dogs. Plan around leash-friendly trains.
- If you're near Boston or New York, Metro-North and the MBTA off-peak are your best everyday options.
- Flat-faced breeds overheat easily. Choose a well-ventilated carrier, avoid hot platforms at midday, and bring water.
A page from Rally's ride
Rally's book starts with a suitcase and a corgi who refuses to be left behind. Whatever train your French Bulldog can ride, packing its own small bag (water, a towel for the floor, a chew) makes the trip feel like Rally's. His packing page is in our free coloring and activity pack.
French Bulldog train questions
Can I bring a French Bulldog on Amtrak?
Maybe for a typical adult French Bulldog (16 to 28 lb). Only if your dog weighs about 16 lb or less. 20 lb limit including the carrier. Trained service dogs of any breed can ride.
Can I bring a French Bulldog on the NYC subway?
Maybe for a typical adult French Bulldog (16 to 28 lb). Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. Trained service dogs of any breed can ride.
Can I bring a French Bulldog on Metro-North?
Yes for a typical adult French Bulldog (16 to 28 lb). In a kennel or similar container, or securely controlled on a leash for the whole trip.
Can I bring a French Bulldog on Brightline?
Maybe for a typical adult French Bulldog (16 to 28 lb). Only if your dog weighs about 25 lb or less. 25 lb limit for the pet, in a carrier. Trained service dogs of any breed can ride.
Can I bring a French Bulldog on BART?
Maybe for a typical adult French Bulldog (16 to 28 lb). Only if your dog fits a carrier that meets the rule. Must ride in an enclosed carrier you can carry. Trained service dogs of any breed can ride.
Does my French Bulldog need a carrier on the train?
On most trains, yes. Amtrak and nearly every city transit system require pets to stay in a closed carrier, and many add a weight limit or a lap-size rule. Only a few trains let dogs ride on a leash, including Metro-North and the MBTA outside weekday rush hours. Service dogs never need a carrier.
Can a French Bulldog be a service dog on the train?
Yes. Any breed can be a service dog if it's individually trained to perform a task for a person with a disability. Service dogs ride free and without a carrier on every train in this guide, and staff can usually ask what task the dog performs. Emotional support dogs don't count and follow the pet rules.
Other breeds
- Poodles4 to 70 lb
- Labs55 to 80 lb
- Golden Retrievers55 to 75 lb
- German Shepherds50 to 90 lb
- Dachshunds8 to 32 lb
- Chihuahuas2 to 6 lb
- Yorkies4 to 7 lb
- Shih Tzus9 to 16 lb
Breed weights are typical adult ranges from breed standards. Rules come from each railroad's own site and can change; crews have the final say on board.
- 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.
Bring Rally on every ride
A five-minute, hand-painted picture book about a corgi's first train trip. $13.99 on Amazon.