By Blake Haas
NORMAL – Furry friends can now join their owners on the train as Amtrak announces pet friendly train rides leaving Normal.
Amtrak announced that dogs and cats up to 20 pounds can join their owners on all trains including the five trains that leave out of Normal headed for Chicago or St. Louis. Amtrak Media Relations Director for Illinois Marc Magliari said it is extremely easy to take a pet on board.
“It’s pretty easy if the pet is fairly small and will fit into a pet carrier and is kept under your seat and at your feet, you are welcome to come along anywhere on the Lincoln Service route anywhere between St. Louis and Chicago,” said Magliari.
Since the program began in Illinois in 2014, more than 5,600 pets have been safely carried with their care-givers on the state-sponsored Amtrak trains with a Chicago hub.
“We started this as a trial in 2014 and with all of the construction and improvements on the Chicago and St. Louis route we thought it would be best not to do this since we were still using some buses for some segments of the route,” Magliari said. “All of that is behind us so this route joins all of the other Amtrak Midwest routes in the five states [Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Missouri] as being pet friendly.”
Magliari said there is a fee however of $25 or 800 Amtrak Guest Rewards points for travel each way. Magliari added this is perfect timing for travel this summer either going to Chicago or St. Louis.
“[This is just] in time for the opening of school this fall or in time for some get away if you are coming up [to Chicago] for a Cubs vs. Cardinals game or going to St. Louis for all of the fun down there and don’t want to leave the fairly small cat or dog at home then bring them along,” said Magliari.
Magliari said more and more riders will bring their pets on board now that the train leaving Normal allows pets.
“Right now the number of people [bringing their pets on board] is pretty small, but that number will grow now that you can [bring your pet onboard] the train leaving Normal,” said Magliari.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
