Service Dogs and Emotional Support Dogs on Trains: Rules by Railroad (2026)
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Service dogs and emotional support dogs on trains
Service dogs ride every train in our guide, free and without a carrier. Emotional support dogs usually don't get the same treatment. Here's each railroad's own rule.
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The short answer
Trained service dogs ride free, without a carrier, on every train in this guide. Emotional support dogs are treated as pets on Amtrak and most transit, so carrier and weight rules apply.
Service dog, emotional support dog, pet
- Service dog: individually trained to do work or perform a task for a person with a disability. Rides free, no carrier, under your control.
- Emotional support dog: provides comfort by being there, without task training. On Amtrak and most transit, it follows the pet rules.
- Pet: follows the pet rules, usually a carrier, sometimes a weight limit or a fee.
The rules that show up almost everywhere
- The dog stays under your control, normally on a leash, harness or tether, unless your disability or its task prevents that.
- It stays on the floor at your feet or under your seat, not in the aisle or on a seat.
- Staff may ask whether it's a service animal and what task it performs.
- A service dog that's out of control or a direct threat can be removed. Misrepresenting a pet as a service animal can be illegal; Amtrak notes it may be a crime in many states, and New Mexico's law is cited by Rio Metro.
Railroad by railroad
| Railroad | Service animals | Emotional support dogs |
|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | Trained service animals are welcome on all Amtrak services, in every area passengers can go, with no carrier. | Emotional support animals are not service animals under DOT rules on Amtrak. They follow the regular pet rules, so the 20 pound limit applies. |
| Pacific Surfliner | Qualified service animals ride free. Choose the "Passenger with Disability" rider type when you book. | Emotional support animals aren't service animals here, but small dogs and cats can ride through the pet program. |
| Capitol Corridor | Only trained service animals that perform a task for a person with a disability ride outside the pet program. | Animals for emotional support, security or comfort don't qualify as service animals. A small one can still ride through the $29 pet program. |
| Gold Runner | Service animals are welcome on all Amtrak services, under your control and housebroken. | Emotional support animals follow Amtrak's pet rules, and pets can't ride the Gold Runner. |
| Amtrak Cascades | Service animals are welcome, including on Canada segments, but check U.S. and Canadian border requirements before you go. | Emotional support animals follow the pet rules, so the 20 pound limit and the no-Canada rule apply. |
| COASTER | Service animals individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities ride all NCTD vehicles. | NCTD's policy only exempts service animals that are trained to perform tasks, so other animals follow the small-pet carrier rule. |
| SPRINTER | Service animals ride all NCTD vehicles, leashed or harnessed unless that interferes with their work. | Only trained service animals are exempt, so comfort animals follow the carrier rule. |
| Metrolink | Service animals trained to assist people with disabilities are permitted. | Metrolink's carry-on pet rules apply to any animal for which no claim of service is made, so comfort animals need the carrier. |
| San Diego Trolley | Service animals are always welcome on MTS buses and the Trolley. | Only service animals ride outside a carrier, so emotional support dogs follow the lap-carrier rule. |
| LA Metro Rail | Service animals are welcome on Metro buses and trains and need no certification. | Emotional support animals must ride in enclosed carriers, the same as pets. |
| Caltrain | A service animal is any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. | Emotional support animals are not service animals, so they can't ride Caltrain. |
| BART | Service animals must be on a leash or harness. Animals trained to work without one should contact BART's Access and Accessibility Department. | Dogs whose only job is comfort or emotional support are not service animals at BART and must ride in a pet carrier. |
| Muni Metro | Service animals (ADA definition, with or without a local license) ride free on every Muni vehicle. Tell the operator when you board. | SFMTA's page doesn't name emotional support animals; animals that aren't ADA service animals fall under the pet rules. |
| SMART | Service animals individually trained to perform tasks ride on a leash or harness, unless that interferes with their work. | Only trained service animals ride outside a carrier. |
| ACE (Altamont Corridor Express) | Service animals are welcome and must be leashed or harnessed at all times. | ACE's code doesn't make an exception for emotional support animals, so they can't ride. |
| VTA Light Rail | Service animals and service animals in training may ride buses and light rail. | VTA treats comfort animals as pets, so they ride in a lap carrier. |
| SacRT Light Rail | Guide, service or signal animals trained to assist people with disabilities ride on a leash or under control. | Only trained guide, service or signal animals are exempt from the carrier rule. |
| Sound Transit (Link and Sounder) | Service animals ride without a container, under their handler's full control, and not on a seat. | Under the posted rule, any animal that isn't a service animal rides in a small container. |
| TriMet MAX | Service animals are welcome on TriMet with no permit required. | TriMet counts companion animals as pets, so they need a carrier. |
| RTD Denver Rail | Service animals are the one exception to RTD's no-animals rule and don't need a carrier. | RTD only exempts service animals, so comfort animals ride in a carrier. |
| UTA TRAX and FrontRunner | Service animals trained to assist with a disability, including guide and signal dogs, may ride. | UTA lists emotional support animals with pets: they ride in a secure container. |
| Valley Metro Rail | Service animals must be under direct physical or verbal control and sit on the floor at your feet or under your seat. | Comfort and therapy animals are explicitly not service animals at Valley Metro and need a lap carrier. |
| New Mexico Rail Runner Express | Service animals ride free and need no tag, ID, certification, papers, harness, vest or pass. | This is unusual: the Rail Runner says no to pets but yes to emotional support animals, as long as they ride in a lap or under-seat carrier. |
| Las Vegas Monorail | Service animals must be properly harnessed and trained, and accompany a person with a disability. | Only trained service animals are mentioned, so plan on leaving an emotional support animal at your hotel. |
| DART Light Rail | Animals whose purpose is to assist a person with a disability ride without a container. | DART's exceptions are for animals assisting or training to assist a person with a disability, so other animals need a container. |
| TEXRail (Trinity Metro) | Service animals that meet ADA requirements, and their trainers, are permitted. | Only ADA service animals ride outside a carrier. |
| Houston METRORail | Service animals ride METRO without a carrier. | METRO's FAQ separates service animals from pets, so other animals use the carrier rule. |
| CapMetro Rail | Service animals must be under the full control of their handler at all times. | Emotional support and comfort animals are specifically excluded in Austin. |
| Metra | Service animals are allowed on all Metra trains at all times. | Metra's exemption is for service animals; other animals follow the small-pet carrier rule and the peak-hour windows. |
| CTA 'L' Trains | Service animals ride CTA buses and trains outside a carrier. | Only service animals are exempt from the carrier rule on the CTA. |
| South Shore Line | ADA service animals are welcome aboard without a cage. | Only ADA service animals and police dogs ride outside a cage. |
| METRO Blue and Green Lines and Northstar | Service animals are exempt from the carrier rule. | Metro Transit's only carrier exemption is for service animals. |
| St. Louis MetroLink | Service animals don't need a pet carrier. | Emotional support animals aren't covered, so they can't ride. |
| Cleveland RTA Rapid | Service animals are welcome without restrictions. | Only service animals are exempt from the 25 pound carrier rule. |
| NYC Subway | Service animals are permitted in all MTA facilities. A service animal is usually, but not always, a dog trained to aid or guide a person with a disability. | MTA's service animal policy covers animals trained to aid a person with a disability. Other animals, including emotional support animals, follow the container rule. |
| Long Island Rail Road | Service animals ride in all MTA facilities, under control by leash, harness or tether, with no ID required. | Emotional support animals follow the lap-container rule. |
| Metro-North Railroad | Service animals ride in all MTA facilities, under control by leash, harness or tether, with no ID required. | Emotional support dogs can ride the same way any pet can, in a container or on a leash. |
| NJ TRANSIT Rail | Service animals ride with customers with disabilities and with their trainers. | NJ TRANSIT's exceptions are for service animals, trainers and police dogs; other animals need a carry-on cage. |
| PATH | Seeing eye dogs and other assistance animals can ride unconfined. | Only assistance animals are exempt from confinement. |
| MBTA (the T) | Service animals are allowed on the T at all times. | MBTA's rules separate service animals from pets, so other animals follow the carrier or off-peak leash rules. |
| CTrail Hartford Line | Trained service dogs assisting people with disabilities ride CTrail Hartford Line trains without restriction. | The Hartford Line's exception is for trained service dogs, so emotional support animals follow the 20 pound carrier rule. |
| Amtrak Downeaster | All Downeaster trains welcome service animals. | Emotional support animals follow Amtrak's pet rules. |
| SEPTA | Service animals must be on a leash or harness on SEPTA vehicles (including paratransit) and in SEPTA buildings. | SEPTA names emotional support animals in its pet rule, so they ride in a sturdy carrier. |
| PATCO Speedline | Service animals ride PATCO without a carrier. | Only service animals are exempt from the lap-carrier rule. |
| WMATA Metrorail | Service animals ride without a carrier. | WMATA's tariff names emotional support animals specifically: they need a carrier. |
| MARC Train | Service animals accompanying passengers with disabilities are permitted. | MARC only exempts service animals, so other animals need a closed carrier. |
| Pittsburgh Regional Transit (the T) | Service animals ride PRT without a carrier. | PRT applies the lap-carrier rule to emotional support animals. |
| Brightline | Service animals ride free, with advance notice: add the animal to your reservation. | Brightline treats comfort animals and search and rescue dogs as pets, so they follow the carrier rules and fees. |
| Tri-Rail | Service animals are exempt from the large-animal ban. | Only service animals are exempt from Tri-Rail's carrier rule. |
| SunRail | Service animals don't need a container. | SunRail's only exemption is for service animals. |
| Miami-Dade Metrorail and Metromover | Service animals ride without a container. | Miami-Dade's carrier rule covers every animal that isn't a service animal. |
| MARTA | Guide and service animals ride without a carrier. | MARTA's exemption is for guide and service animals, so others need a rigid carrier. |
| LYNX Blue Line (CATS) | Animals that assist a person with a disability, or are in training, may ride. | CATS's code doesn't make an exception for emotional support animals. |
| The Tide (Hampton Roads Transit) | Service animals are welcome, and animals in training may ride. | HRT doesn't list an emotional support animal exception. |
| WeGo Star | Service animals are welcome on board WeGo buses and the WeGo Star. | WeGo says emotional support animals ride in enclosed carriers. |
| New Orleans Streetcars | Service animals are allowed on RTA buses, streetcars, ferries and paratransit. | RTA groups comfort animals with small pets: 20 pounds or less, in a small carrier. |
| VIA Rail Canada | Guide, service and emotional support dogs follow a separate VIA policy. Declare them in the accessibility section when you book, not as a pet. | VIA handles emotional support dogs under its guide and service dog policy, separate from pets. |
| Alaska Railroad | Service animals ride in the passenger cars with their handler. | Emotional support animals aren't service animals, so they ride in the baggage car kennel. |
Service dog questions
Do service dogs need a vest or ID to ride the train?
No. Systems that address it, including the MTA in New York and Rio Metro in New Mexico, say no identification, certification or vest is required. LA Metro also says service animals need no certification.
What can train staff ask about a service dog?
Usually two things: whether the animal is a service animal, and what task it's trained to perform. Amtrak, MTS in San Diego, Valley Metro and Rio Metro all say staff may ask about the task.
Are emotional support dogs service dogs on trains?
No. Amtrak says an emotional support animal is not a service animal under DOT regulations and follows the pet rules. BART, Valley Metro, VTA, UTA and WMATA say the same. CapMetro in Austin and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway don't allow them at all.
Can a service dog sit on the seat?
No. Nearly every railroad requires service animals to stay on the floor at your feet or under the seat, out of the aisle. Caltrain and Muni allow a lap if the animal needs it to do its job.
Are service dogs in training allowed on trains?
It depends on the railroad. VTA, BART (dogs only), ACE, DART and Trinity Metro make room for service animals in training or their trainers, and Caltrain lets 4-H Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy raisers board with an ID card. Amtrak does not treat animals in training as service animals.
This is a plain-language summary of each railroad's published policy, not legal advice.
- 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.