Can I Take My Dog on a Train

How to take your canis familiaris past train...

This gets asked surprisingly ofttimes, equally information technology'due south difficult and expensive to send dogs, cats or other pets abroad by air, and pets observe it very stressful travelling lonely in the hold of a plane.  So why not take your dog by train, the civilised and comfy overland option?  The biggest issue is that Eurostar doesn't allow dogs at all, except guide dogs.  Only don't worry, there are alternatives - this page explains the options for civilised & enjoyable train travel betwixt the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland and central European destinations with your dog, cat or other pet.

  Step 1, taking your dog on trains in the Uk

  Step ii, getting your domestic dog across the Channel

  Step iii, taking dogs on trains in mainland Europe

Pet passport, microchip, vaccinations...

Before you kickoff, y'all'll demand to make sure your dog or pet complies with the necessary rules & regulations of the PET Travel Scheme, including being fitted with a microchip, and having a pet passport and the necessary vaccinations, see www.defra.gov.britain/wildlife-pets/pets/travel for details of the latest rules.

P et travel from January 2021:  Brexit has made travel to mainland Europe with your canis familiaris more complicated, see www.gov.united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-after-brexit.

Footstep 1, taking a pet on British trains

This bit is easy.  You can take dogs, cats and other small animals with you free of charge on all British trains, upwardly to a maximum of two per passenger, as long equally they practise non endanger or inconvenience passengers or staff.  Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times unless contained in a basket.  Dogs without leads, cats, birds and pocket-size animals must exist carried in an enclosed basket, cage or pet carrier which must exist rigid and non open (to forestall escape) and the animate being able to stand and prevarication down in comfort.  Animals and containers must not occupy seats, otherwise a accuse may be made.  If y'all want to use a Caledonian Sleeper to or from Scotland, you'll need to pay a fee, come across here.  For full details of dog & pet regulations on British trains meet www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger services/baggage animals.html.  So far, so proficient.

Step 2, getting across the Channel

Let's become the biggest problem out of the way first: Eurostar doesn't carry dogs or pets at all, except guide dogs.  And most ferry operators won't let human foot passengers take dogs either.  In fact, in that location are but 3 ferry operators who let foot passengers take dogs, Stena Line Harwich to Hoek van Kingdom of the netherlands, P&O Hull-Rotterdam, DFDS Newhaven-Dieppe & Newcastle-Amsterdam.  You lot could of grade apparel your dog every bit a guide dog, pretend to exist blind, and take Eurostar.  Indeed, I'm simply half joking, as the Eurostar journey would be then simple compared to some of the other options, though I must admit I haven't nonetheless heard from anyone who has actually tried it.  Difficult to be convincing if your canis familiaris is a Yorkshire Terrier, unless he'southward a very proficient histrion.  But more realistically, here are the options for crossing the Channel with your canis familiaris or pet:

  Pick i, past ferry Harwich-Hoek van Holland

  Option two, Folkestone Taxis Folkestone-Calais

  Option 3, by ferry Newhaven-Dieppe

  Option 4, by ferry from Hull or Newcastle

Pick 1:  London to Hoek van Holland with Stena Line...

...for onward trains to Kingdom of belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Primal & Eastern Europe & Scandinavia.

I highly recommend this selection for both condolement and simplicity for travel with your canis familiaris betwixt the UK and the following countries:  Netherlands, Belgium, Grand duchy of luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria, central & eastern Europe and Scandinavia.  However, it's a long manner round if y'all're bound for France, Spain or Portugal.  In many cases you tin volume your whole trip online, complete with a kennel or pet-friendly cabin on the ferry.

What is Stena Line Rails & Sail?

Stena Line Rails & Sail is an integrated train & ferry service betwixt London & the Netherlands run jointly past Greater Anglia, Stena Line and NS (Dutch Railways).  One ticket bought at www.stenaline.co.united kingdom covers the whole journey from London or any East Anglia rails station to Amsterdam or whatsoever Dutch rails station.  It works in both directions, of course, merely I'll describe the outward journey from the UK hither...

You take the 19:32 train from London Liverpool Street station to Harwich and your canis familiaris travels with you lot on the train.  At Harwich, the train arrives alongside the ferry terminal at effectually twenty:54.  It's totally painless:  You walk straight off the train into the ferry concluding, through passport control (where your canis familiaris or cat's pet passport will be checked too) and onto the luxurious Stena Line superferry to Hoek van The netherlands.

You enter the ship via the rider gangway onto Deck 7.

If y'all've booked a pet-friendly cabin, take your dog or cat by elevator or stairs up to deck x, where all the pet-friendly cabins are.  All cabins have a shower, toilet, free WiFi and satellite Boob tube.  Your pet stays with you in the motel, they are non allowed on the residuum of the ship.  If your pet needs a pee or poo, get down the Carmine Stairs to Deck vii and press the white push button to open a door to a small outside deck area where they can get some air, have a little do and do their business.

If yous've booked a kennel, you accept your domestic dog upwardly ii decks by elevator or stairs to the Guest Services desk on Deck nine, which is the main rider deck with all the bars, lounges & restaurants.  The Guest Services staff will  give you lot a kennel number in either Kennel A or Kennel B, and give you the 4-digit code to access the kennels.  You then go down one deck on Red Stairs to the kennels on Deck 8.  The kennels take a sink with running water, and they provide blankets for dogs to slumber on, merely you should accept your own pet'due south water basin, food bowl and maybe their favourite toy.  If your pet needs a pee or poo, go downward one deck on the aforementioned Red Stairs to Deck vii and press the white button to open up a door to a small outside deck area where they tin get some air, have a little exercise and exercise their business concern.

After settling your pet into their kennel you tin settle in to your own private en suite motel on Deck 10 or eleven and maybe have a late dinner in the ship'due south restaurant (or a nightcap in the bar) on Deck nine.  All cabins have a shower, toilet, free WiFi and satellite TV.  Channel 6 on the Boob tube shows CCTV pictures of the kennels, with close-ups of individual cages.  You can visit your dog at any time during the crossing, although pets are non allowed in the public areas, other than to reach the Customer Services desk on embarkation, or to achieve a pet-friendly motel.

The ferry sails at 23:00 every day and arrives at Hoek van Holland at 08:00 next morning, Dutch time.  You now collect your dog from the kennels, if they demand a pee you tin can accept them to that modest outside deck area on Deck vii.  You then walk off the ferry into the terminal and out onto the adjacent railway station for the frequent local railroad train to Rotterdam.  Change trains in Schiedam for the frequent InterCity trains to Amsterdam, arriving Amsterdam around 10:01.  In the opposite direction, you lot'd leave Amsterdam around 18:46, the ferry sails from Hoek around 22:00 arriving Harwich at 06:30, you reach fundamental London around 08:l.

You'll find full details, photos & a video guide on the Stena Line Track & Canvass page.

Onward trains to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italian republic, Eastern Europe etc...

Direct daytime trains link Amsterdam with Germany and Switzerland - in many cases these become via Utrecht, and changing at Utrecht saves going all the way into Amsterdam.  Regular daytime trains link Rotterdam with Brussels and Paris.  All of these trains take dogs, sometimes costless, sometimes for a fee, sometimes with a child rate ticket.  Or have a train to Cologne then the Nightjet sleeper to Munich, Innsbruck or Vienna, dogs are carried for �29 paid on board the train, as long as you and your party occupy a whole compartment.  You'll find specific timetables for journeys between London and each of the following countries by clicking the relevant link:  Belgium, Italian republic, Switzerland, Federal republic of germany, Republic of austria, Denmark, Hungary, Czech Republic & Poland.

How much does information technology price?

You'll detect specific fare & booking data for journeys between London and each of the following countries by clicking the relevant link:  Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Frg, Republic of austria, Denmark, Hungary, Czechia & Poland.

...and to have a domestic dog or true cat?

On the train from London to Harwich your dog travels free.  On the ferry, y'all must reserve a kennel (�17) or pet-friendly cabin during the online booking process.  On the Dutch domestic trains between Hoek van Holland, Rotterdam & Amsterdam or Utrecht, small dogs or cats in containers on your lap travel free of charge, simply if y'all accept a larger domestic dog y'all'll need to purchase a dog day-ticket (Dagkaart Hond) for �three, you may be able to buy this at the Guest Services desk-bound on deck 9 on board the Stena Line ferry, otherwise buy it at Schiedam station.  On the international daytime trains from Amsterdam or Utrecht to Germany and Switzerland, cats and small dogs (up to true cat sized) in containers go free, larger dogs on leads require a child rate ticket which you tin buy online exactly equally you would for a child, although unlike kids they don't qualify for the costless kid with an adult deal.

How to purchase tickets for y'all & your canis familiaris, step one:

Book your Runway & Sail ticket from London to Amsterdam online at world wide web.stenaline.co.uk.  You only need to choose a pet-friendly (animate being) motel at the cabin stage plus the 'pet in motel' selection at the extras phase, or only add a pet in kennel at the extras stage.

How to purchase tickets, step 2:

You now need to volume the onward trains to your European destination.  Booking usually opens 90 days ahead, you cannot book earlier reservations open.  Trains from Amsterdam to Cologne, Frankfurt and Switzerland laissez passer through Utrecht so it's quicker to option them up there rather than going all the way into Amsterdam, unless yous really want to.  For daytime travel from Amsterdam or Utrecht to Germany or Switzerland, book your own ticket at www.bahn.de.  Small (cat-size) dogs & cats in containers go free, if you lot have a larger larger dog it travels at the child rate (either full-fare flexpreis or discounted sparpreis, it doesn't matter) so just use www.bahn.de once more to buy a kid ticket, I recommend buying this as a separate booking to avoid the arrangement automatically offering the 'Kid nether 15 accompanied by an developed goes free' offer which doesn't apply to dogs!  In that location are Nightjet sleeper train from Cologne to Innsbruck (for Italy) & Vienna (for all points east) and you can hands book these online at world wide web.bahn.de.  Onward connections from Innsbruck to Italy or Vienna to Budapest can be booked at www.oebb.at.

Inward one-way tickets:  Note that www.stenaline.co.united kingdom can but book one-way or render tickets starting in the UK.  One-way or return tickets starting in the Netherlands must be booked at the Dutch version of the Stena Line website, run across the advice here.

Harwich-Hoek with a pet, in pictures... London to Holland past Stena Line Track & Canvass ...  A train takes you lot from London's Liverpool Street station directly to the ferry terminal at Harwich, with your domestic dog at your side.  You walk off the train into the terminal, walk through a painless security check, get your boarding card & cabin key and walk straight onto the overnight ferry to Hoek van Holland, settling your canis familiaris into the on-lath kennels or (if you've booked a pet-friendly motel) they can stay with you.

Cosy cabins:  The overnight Harwich-Hoek ferry is a floating hotel.  All passengers travel in a cosy private cabin with en suite shower & toilet and satellite TV.  This is a Helm's class motel with double bed and complimentary minibar... Clean & secure kennel... On the ferry, kennels are located on Ruddy Stairs on eight Deck, one deck higher up the deck where you enter the ship (deck 7), just below the primary rider deck (deck 9) & motel decks (ten & 11).  The door has a four-digit security code lock and then only pet owners can enter. Inside the kennel...  The kennels have large and small cages and a washbasin.  Cats & dogs are not allowed in cabins or passenger areas, but information technology's only for one night and yous can admission the kennels at any time during the crossing... Pets on TV...  All cabins have satellite TV.  Aqueduct 6 cycles through wide and shut-up shots of all the kennel cages, and then you lot can see that your pet is OK.

Onwards to Switzerland, Italian republic, Germany, Republic of austria or wherever by loftier-speed train:  At Hoek van Holland, you lot collect your domestic dog from the kennels and walk off the ship, through passport control and straight onto the station for the frequent metro train to Schiedam & Rotterdam.  Go off the metro at Schiedam Centrum and take an intercity train to Amsterdam, or get off at Rotterdam Alexander and take an Intercity train to Utrecht.  Trains run from Amsterdam to Berlin and Amsterdam & Utrecht to Cologne & Frankfurt.  This is a superb German ICE train at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf...

Option ii:  London to Paris by train + Folkestone Taxis.

For France, Spain or Portugal you really need to go via Paris.  Equally Eurostar won't accept pets and most Aqueduct Ferries won't let human foot passengers take pets either, hither is a solution which works well:

Step ane, travel from London to Folkestone on any frequent domestic train, with dogs going free.  Y'all can check railroad train times & fares at world wide web.nationalrail.co.uk.  There are hourly or one-half hourly trains from London Charing Cross, Waterloo East or St Pancras to Folkestone Cardinal.  Take your selection.

Stride 2, utilize Folkestone Taxis to run you from Folkestone to Calais via the Eurotunnel shuttle.  Book your trip by calling Folkestone Taxi Co. on 01303 252 000 (+44 1303 252000 from exterior the UK) in accelerate, see their pet transport folio at www.folkestonetaxi.com/Pet+travel+abroad.  They can take you and your dog and up to 3 other passengers from Folkestone Central station to Calais Ville or Calais Fr�thun stations for effectually �125 plus the cost of the Eurotunnel ticket, maybe another �75.  Yous and your dog remain together in the taxi throughout the journey via the Channel Tunnel car shuttle train.  Folkestone Taxis have been highly recommended by several travellers, further feedback is always appreciated.

Alternatively, a cheaper solution is of course to get a friend to drive you to Calais and drop you lot at the station, using a cheap day return ferry ticket - try www.dfds.com or www.poferries.com.  The dog remains inside the car on the ferry car deck.

Step 3, take a French domestic railroad train from Calais Ville or Calais Fr�thun to Paris.  To cheque train times use www.raileurope.com (in � or �) or world wide web.thetrainline.com (in �).  On French trains, pocket-size dogs nether half dozen Kg placed in containers non exceeding 45cm 10 30cm x 25cm pay no more than �5.10 per journey.  Larger dogs muzzled and on leads pay half the 2nd class full fare, even travelling in 1st class.  For onward train travel with your dog to Spain, Italia, Portugal and then on, see the post-obit section.

How to plan your trip...  The French trains from Calais to Paris are irregular and less frequent than the British ones, and then starting time by picking a suitable afternoon train from Calais to Paris and work backwards.  Inquire Folkestone Taxis what fourth dimension you need to get out Folkestone Fundamental in their taxi to make this railroad train.  Then work out a railroad train from London (or your local station) to Folkestone Central with plenty of time in hand.

Y'all tin can purchase your own ticket at www.raileurope.com or world wide web.thetrainline.com then pay for the dog at the station in  Calais, as the domestic dog toll is fixed and spaces cannot sell out.  Or yous tin can purchase tickets for both you lot and your dog online at the official French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com but only if you select 'French republic' elevation correct and leave it in French.  On their dwelling house page, click the downwardly pointer to open the advanced options, a button marked creature appears, next to the cycle button.  Only the bicycle push appears in the English language version, non the animal push button.

This blog may inspire you: Argo, the dog who took the train to Italy....

Selection three: London to Paris via the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry...

This merely works for smaller dogs & pets in cages or carriers.  Dogs get free of charge on any of the normal domestic UK trains to Newhaven (see www.nationalrail.co.britain for train times), y'all tin then take an DFDS ferry beyond the Channel from Newhaven to Dieppe (www.dfds.com), then a domestic French railroad train to Paris (www.thetrainline.com for railroad train times & booking).  Most ferry companies practise not let foot passengers to take pets, but DFDS allows y'all to take a true cat or dog with you as a pes passenger on these routes nether the PETS travel scheme, as long as the beast is caged, see the pets page on their website.  The caged pet is handed to staff at check-in and returned to you after the crossing.  Information technology basically takes most of a day to go from London to Paris via Newhaven-Dieppe.  Once in Paris, you can take onward trains to Espana, Portugal or the Southward of France, every bit shown in pace 4 below.

Selection iv: Hull-Rotterdam or Newcastle-Amsterdam by ferry...

You can have a dog as a foot passenger with pet-friendly cabins on DFDS overnight Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry,  Yet, you cannot volume online, you need to phone them, check sailing times at www.dfds.com then call 0871 522 9955.  P&O besides take dogs with foot passengers on their overnight Hull-Rotterdam ferry, see www.poferries.com.

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Step 3, taking pets on trains in mainland Europe...

Once safely across the Channel, you lot can take a domestic dog or cat with you on nearly trains beyond Europe, sometimes free, sometimes for a minor accuse, sometimes with a normal child-rate ticket.  In sleeping-cars and couchettes on overnight trains, y'all can by and large only accept a domestic dog if your political party occupies all the berths in a compartment.

  France

  Netherlands

  Switzerland

  Italy

  Spain

  Portugal

  Germany

  Austria, Scandinavia, primal & eastern Europe

  Denmark, Sweden, Norway

  Greece

To France...

• From the UK to France...

  Eurostar doesn't take dogs and nor do nigh ferry companies unless you lot are a motorist.  P&O used to allow foot passengers to accept dogs, simply have stopped doing in 2012.  However, DFDS will take caged pets if you're a foot rider on their Newhaven-Dieppe route.  So either get a friend to drive you to Calais using a cheap twenty-four hour period-trip ferry ticket and dropping you at Calais Ville or Calais Fr�thun station as explained above in option two or travel by train from London to Newhaven, take a DFDS ferry every bit a foot passenger with your pet in a muzzle as explained above in option 3 to Dieppe, taxi to the station for a railroad train to Paris.

• Pets on trains within France...

  Dogs tin can be taken on all French trains.  Small dogs (nether 6Kg) placed in containers not exceeding 45cm ten 30cm x 25cm pay no more �5.10 per journeying.  Larger dogs muzzled and on leads pay half the 2d class full fare (even travelling in 1st class).

  Y'all tin buy your own ticket in English at world wide web.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com then pay for your dog at the station, as the dog price is fixed and spaces cannot sell out.  Or you can purchase tickets for both you and your domestic dog online at the official French Railways website world wide web.sncf-connect.com simply only if you select 'France' superlative correct and leave information technology in French.  On their home page, click the downwardly arrow to open the avant-garde options, a button marked animal appears, adjacent to the bicycle button.  But the cycle button appears in the English version, non the animate being push.

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To the Netherlands...

• From the UK to the Netherlands...

  I recommend travelling via the Harwich-Hoek van Holland superferry as shown in selection 1 above.  Once at Hoek van Holland your Dutch Flyer ticket is valid to whatsoever Dutch station, not just Amsterdam.  Y'all can book from London to Amsterdam or whatsoever Dutch station online at world wide web.stenaline.co.great britain, adding a kennel during the booking process.

  Alternatively, y'all can also accept a dog every bit a pes rider with pet-friendly cabins on DFDS overnight Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry, but yous must book by phone, check sailing times at www.dfds.com then call 0871 522 9955.  P&O take dogs with pes passengers on their overnight Hull-Rotterdam ferry, encounter www.poferries.com.

• Pets on trains within kingdom of the netherlands...

  On Dutch trains, small dogs or cats in containers placed on your lap travel free of accuse, if you have a larger dog on a lead you will need to purchase a Dagkaart Hond  (dog day-ticket) for just over �3.  Y'all can check details for this at the Dutch Railways site www.ns.nl.

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To Switzerland...

• From the U.k. to Switzerland...

  Yous should use the train & ferry service from London to Amsterdam via the Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, every bit explained in option 1 above.  For details of the London to Switzerland journeying via this route meet the Switzerland page, which has timetables & fares.  Y'all can book the London-Amsterdam role of the journey online at world wide web.stenaline.co.united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, adding a reserved kennel during the booking procedure.  Yous'll then notice daytime trains from Utrecht to Basel & Zurich, which you tin book online at www.bahn.de.

• Pets on trains within Switzerland...

  Dogs of whatsoever size can travel for half the 2nd grade fare on any Swiss railroad train (for longer journeys there'due south a Dog Mean solar day carte du jour), pocket-size dogs upwards to 30cm high at the shoulder can travel complimentary if they are in a carrier, you lot'll find information on the Swiss railways website www.sbb.ch and you can easily buy Swiss tickets at the station when you get at that place.

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To Italy...

• From the UK to Italy...

  I'd suggest using the overnight Harwich-Hoek van Holland superferry as explained in choice one higher up as it is so dog-friendly.

  I'd then suggest travelling from Amsterdam to Munich by daytime trains, then overnight again from Munich to Venice on the excellent Nightjet sleeper train.  You'll observe total details of these trains and how to volume them in the via Harwich department of the London to Italy page.

  Dogs travel on the German-run trains between Amsterdam, Cologne & Munich under the same arrangements as for trains inside Germany explained in the To Germany section beneath.

  Dogs are carried on the Nightjet sleeper from Cologne to Innsbruck or Vienna for �29, every bit long as you and your party occupy a whole compartment.  Yous don't need to book the dog, you simply pay the extra �29 to the staff on lath the train.

  Start book the London-Amsterdam part of the journey online at www.stenaline.co.uk, adding a reserved kennel during the booking procedure.

  Then volume Amsterdam-Munich followed by Munich-Venice using world wide web.thetrainline.com.  And so buy a divide 2nd class child ticket for your dog from Amsterdam to Munich every bit explained in the To Germany section below.

  And so travel onwards from Venice to other Italian cities.  Meet the Pets on trains within Italy section below.

  Alternatively, you can have daytime trains from Utrecht to Basel or Zurich, book these online at www.bahn.de.  Stay overnight in Basel or Zurich.  Then take a Zurich to Milan EuroCity train, which yous tin volume online at www.sbb.ch.  Dogs under 30cm high at the shoulder in a carrier travel free on this EuroCity train and on onward trains within Italy.  Dogs over 30cm high and not in a carrier must have a ticket, usually charged at half the 2nd form fare, which you lot can buy at the station in Zurich for near �35.

• If you prefer to travel via Folkestone/Newhaven & Paris using option 2 or choice 3 above (both involving ferry or EuroTunnel to France and so domestic French train to Paris as Eurostar doesn't take dogs), you tin can take dogs on leads on the daytime Paris-Turin-Milan TGV trains for a �10 charge, with pocket-size dogs/cats in pet carriers travelling free.  Dogs not in carriers must be muzzled.  Dogs are also carried on Trenitalia's competing Paris-Milan Frecciarossa, dogs under 5Kg become free, dogs 5-50 Kg �xxx, all dogs must travel in Standard or Business class Allegro cars.  Encounter the London to Italian republic page for details of times, prices and how to purchase tickets.  The �10 fee for taking a dog on the Paris-Milan TGV must be paid past telephone, it cannot be booked online.

• Pets on trains within Italy...

  Dogs and pets are carried on most Trenitalia trains, gratuitous in a carrier (max dimensions 70cm x 30cm x 50cm) or at half the 2nd class fare if on a atomic number 82 and muzzled, for total details to www.trenitalia.com and look under Services for Ship of pets.  Yous'll need to deport the domestic dog's pet passport, and yep, you lot will need to use a muzzle if your dog isn't inside a carrier.  You aren't allowed to take dogs on regional trains between 07:00 & 09:00 weekdays.  Y'all aren't allowed to take a domestic dog in Premium or Executive classes on Freccia high-speed trains.  You can but have a dog in sleepers or couchettes if your party occupies the whole compartment.

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To Kingdom of spain...

• From the United kingdom to Espana...

  Eurostar does not take dogs.  So kickoff you'll need to get from London to Paris using either choice 2 or option 3 above, both of which hateful taking a ferry to Calais and train to Paris, arriving in the evening.  See the London to Kingdom of spain page for details of train times, fares and how to buy tickets.  You may demand to stay in Paris overnight.

  There are two daily French TGVs from Paris Gare de Lyon to Figueres, Girona & Barcelona in Spain, run across the Paris to Barcelona past railroad train page for details.  In that location are also TGVs from Paris Montparnasse to Hendaye, a stone'south throw from San Sebastian.

  On these French TGV trains you can take small dogs under 10Kg in pet carriers not exceeding 45cm 10 30cm x 25cm for around �59 per journey.  You volition need to book by phone with SNCF on 00 33 970 60 99 seventy, dogs cannot be booked online.  Or book yourself in accelerate using www.raileurope.com and then buy a dog ticket at the station as these cannot sell out.

  Unfortunately, larger dogs aren't allowed at all on these TGVs across the French border or on any Spanish trains, so if you have such a domestic dog you'll have to get off somewhere like Perpignan and perhaps hire a car.

  One option which does allow larger dogs is to travel from Paris to Toulouse past TGV and stay overnight in Toulouse.  Then take the local TER train from Toulouse to Latour de Ballad and the local Castilian railroad train from Latour de Carol to Barcelona Sants as shown here.  It'due south an enjoyable breathtaking route!  See the France section above for the arrangements for taking dogs on French trains from Paris to Latour.  Dogs go costless on the local train between Latour de Carol and Barcelona, only must be on a lead and muzzled and yous must acquit their pet passport.

  Unfortunately, although Brittany Ferries (www.brittany-ferries.co.uk) from Portsmouth to Bilbao & Plymouth to Santander have kennels on board their ships, they won't permit foot passengers take dogs, merely motorists.

• Pets on trains within Spain...

  Dogs under 10Kg in pet carriers (max 60cm x 35cm x 35cm) can be taken on long distance trains either costless or for 25% of the total-tariff standard class fare, see www.renfe.com for details - click Welcome at the tiptop for English language, then Travel information bottom left, then Travelling with animals.

  However, larger dogs are non immune at all on any Castilian railroad train, end of.  I get together this is a cultural matter, as big dogs are generally regarded every bit working animals (for example, guard dogs) not pets in Spain.

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To Portugal...

• From the UK to Portugal...

  Eurostar doesn't carry dogs, so first travel from London to Paris using either option 2 or pick 3 above.  You'll and then need to stay overnight in Paris. And then travel from Paris to Lisbon as shown on the London to Portugal page.

  They key issue is that dogs over 10Kg aren't carried on trains across Spain.

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To Germany...

• From the UK to kingdom of the netherlands...

  I recommend travelling from London to Amsterdam via the overnight Harwich-Hoek van Kingdom of the netherlands ferry, run across selection ane above.  For details of a journey from London to German cities via this route see the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland to Germany folio.

  Step 1, you can book the London-Amsterdam role of the journeying online at www.stenaline.co.great britain, calculation a reserved kennel during the booking process.

  Step 2, check train times & purchase tickets from Amsterdam Centraal to anywhere in Frg at www.bahn.de.  On the German language-run international trains between Amsterdam and Cologne, Frankfurt, Hannover & Berlin, the same arrangements utilise as for German language domestic travel explained below.

• Pets on trains within Germany & on international trains between Amsterdam & Federal republic of germany...

  Small-scale dogs and cats in containers become free.  For larger dogs you simply buy a kid 2nd form ticket, even if you travel in 1st class.  Y'all can purchase child tickets for your dog online at www.bahn.de, although do this as a split booking from your own ticket to avoid the 'child under 15 accompanied past an adult goes free' offering which doesn't utilize to dogs, and you demand to select the tickets past post choice as dogs cannot be e-ticketed.  Dogs not in carriers must be on a lead and (in theory at to the lowest degree) muzzled.  In practice you'll seldom see dogs muzzled).  Dogs classed equally 'dangerous breeds' aren't carried on trains in Germany.

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To Austria, central & eastern Europe...

• From the United kingdom to Republic of austria & key Europe...

  I recommend travelling from London to Amsterdam via the overnight Harwich-Hoek van Kingdom of the netherlands ferry, see option i in a higher place.  For details of a journeying from London to various countries via this route, click the relevant destination link:  Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland.

  Step 1, you lot can volume the London-Amsterdam function of the journey online at www.stenaline.co.united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, adding a reserved kennel during the booking process.

• For Austria...

  Footstep 2, book a belatedly afternoon train from Amsterdam Centraal to Cologne Hbf at www.bahn.de.  On trains between Amsterdam and Cologne, small dogs and cats in containers go free, larger dogs pay the kid rate, yous can buy child tickets for your domestic dog online at www.bahn.de, simply do this as a split booking from your ain ticket to avert the 'child under 15 accompanied by an adult goes free' offering which doesn't apply to dogs!  Note that dogs classed as 'dangerous' breeds aren't carried on trains in Germany.

  Step 3, then use www.oebb.at to book the Nightjet sleeper from Cologne Hbf to Munich Hbf, Innsbruck or Vienna Hbf.  Change in Munich for Salzburg.  Dogs are carried on the Nightjet sleeper from Cologne to Innsbruck or Vienna for �29 paid on board the railroad train, as long as you lot and your political party occupy a whole compartment.

• Pets on trains within Austria...

  Minor dogs (significant cat-size) or cats in containers become free, larger dogs require a child ticket, which can exist booked online at www.oebb.at.

• For Hungary...

  Travel to Vienna every bit in a higher place.  On onward trains from Vienna to Budapest, small-scale dogs (meaning cat-size) or cats in containers become free, larger dogs require a child ticket, which can be booked online at www.oebb.at.  Annotation that dogs aren't immune in MAV (Hungarian Railways) sleeping-cars or couchette cars at all, which rules out the Munich-Budapest and Zurich-Budapest night trains.

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To Denmark, Sweden, Norway...

• From the UK to Scandinavia...

  I recommend travelling from London to Amsterdam via the overnight Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, see choice 1 above.  For details of a journey from London to diverse countries via this road, click the relevant destination link:  Kingdom of denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland.

  Step 1, yous can book the London-Amsterdam part of the journey online at www.stenaline.co.uk, adding a reserved kennel during the booking process.

  Stride 2, cheque train times & purchase tickets from Amsterdam Centraal to Copenhagen at www.bahn.de.  An overnight stop in Hamburg may be necessary.

  On the German-run international trains betwixt Amsterdam, Hamburg & Copenhagen, minor dogs and cats in containers get costless, larger dogs pay the child rate.  You can buy kid tickets for a larger canis familiaris online at www.bahn.de, although practise this as a split booking from your own ticket to avoid the child nether 15 accompanied past an adult goes free offer which doesn't use to dogs.  Note that dogs classed as 'dangerous' breeds aren't carried on trains in Germany.

  Step 3, dogs tin go on the Copenhagen-Stockholm X2000 trains, simply yous can't take a pet in 1st class and you lot demand to use the special pets allowed department of the railroad train in second class.  You can reserve seats in this department when booking at www.sj.se or call their telesales line.

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To Greece...

• From the UK to Greece...

  Pace 1, travel from London to Venice via Harwich-Hoek and Munich exactly equally shown in the To Italy section in a higher place.

  Step 2, now sail to Greece by ferry, using Anek or Minoan Lines from Venice to Igoumenitsa or Patras, encounter world wide web.minoan.gr or www.anek.gr.  Or catch a train to Ancona or Bari and take a ferry from in that location, with www.superfast.com.

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For more information...

• For data on the transport of dogs and other pets in particular countries, search the website of the relevant national train operator.  In that location is a list of links to each operator'south website on the useful links page.

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Feedback requested!

Feedback from anyone who takes their domestic dog or cat into Europe by train would be very welcome.

Traveller'due south reports...

Dog owner Wendy Shillam reports:  "We've been taking our dog abroad since the rules inverse 9 years ago.  Firstly I hold that its mad that Eurostar doesn't allow dogs, especially as it would be a expert earner for them and they need the money!  I wrote to the COE but got no answer.  The most comfortable and quickest way for dogs to cross the channel (though non always the cheapest) is past car with Eurotunnel.  They just stay in the automobile with you and at that place is no carp.  In one case, we then left our machine at the Calais 'parkway' station, just on returning we saw that quite a few cars - not ours thank goodness - had been broken into.  It is a very desolate spot and no security as far every bit I can run across.  Simply it is gratuitous parking.  One time beyond the channel exist careful which train y'all get from Calais - some especially on Sundays are really slow.  Nosotros likewise have taken the motorail railroad train from D�sseldorf, it'due south non as well far and then y'all can go a auto-conveying overnight train from D�sseldorf to Italy, the due south of French republic or Austria.  Dogs are accepted on these German motorail trains in the sleeper cabins and we have never had a problem. Our dog Astrid, a nine year old Mini Schnauzer, has lasted 17 hours on a train with no ill effects - overnight she just settles down to sleep, generally taking up most of my bunk!  The steward will tell y'all if at that place are longer stops which allows you to give your domestic dog a 'condolement' walk.  The irony is that if we could travel on Eurostar we would never dream of taking our motorcar with usa at all!  On Spanish trains dogs should be muzzled - the baby-sit did let u.s. get abroad with it, but if Astrid had been a bigger dog at that place might have been trouble.  Besides beware if you plan to travel with your domestic dog past bus in Espana.  They insist that the canis familiaris goes in a casket (which you have to bring) in the hold underneath the seats, which I doubtable on a hot day is tantamount to brute cruelty!  Astrid has been most comfy and spoilt in France, Italy, Belgium and Sweden.  Also retrieve that if you are going to the South dogs need to be protected against a nasty bug called lishmania which tin cause a chronic affliction with no cure - but drugs can control it.  And then always check with a  vet who knows well-nigh foreign travel well earlier you go."

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Source: https://www.seat61.com/dogs-by-train.htm