Do any of you have any experience of travelling by train with dogs or puppies. Not something I have attempted before but am likely to be travelling for around 4 hours home with a new puppy so would welcome any experiences. For example are dogs allowed in the carriages or do they have to go in the guards van? The train I will be travelling on will be from Virgin Railways.

I do have a dog carrying box and have previous experience of bringing a pup home by car so I am not to worried about that side of things just the actual rail journey itself.

They don't have guards vans any more! They are long gone.

I took a puppy to its new owners by train once, many years ago, and it was easy. She stayed in her box till it was mealtime, then she ate her dinner, then I took her into the loo (!!), put newspaper on the floor where she wee'ed and pooed, then she went back in her box again! Good as gold! What a star!

Jeangenie - thanks for that. Well seen how often I travel by train isn't it!! The idea of taking the puppy plus newspaper is a great help. I had thought of the newspaper but hadn't quite worked out where exactly pup was going be able to use it.

When I collected my current dog when she was a pup I filled the car with everything under the sun I thought I might need and hardly used any of it. This time by train (which should be quicker than going by road) I will need to scale down what I take to more sensible proportions.

Thanks again
Ailsa

I took this 8 week pup from London to Anglesey and she was as good as gold. Just keep the pup's box down by your feet if you can, or have the pup on your lap for cuddles and play. It's a safe place to eat/drink as well.

Good luck - make sure you book a seat for yourself though - you don't want to find the train's full. :)

If you book the particular journey through Virgin themselves then you automatically get a seat reserved and all the Virgin trains are now non-smoking.

Fiona
x x x

We have guard vans on our local line (on the old trains, we're in West Yorkshire), have come in handy when I've had a buggy or dog with me :)

I went by Virgin to my parents a couple of weeks ago and there was a Jack Russell on the train and the guard saw it and didn't bat an eyelid.

Fiona
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PS - South West Trains still have guards vans but only on the slam door trains.

I(n the list of rules it actually says that two dogs per passenger travel free! I have attenpted to travel to a couple of shows, but it is only viable on saturdays if judging doesn't start too early and venue close to a station. Have gone to Crufts by train, but after last occasiobn I barely arrived in tim,e for the bitch judging as the train I had advance booked on, and the next got cancelled.

If no-one is using it go for the disabled place as there is no table and the seat is a single and folds up for wheeelchair access.

Hi Ailsa,
When I got a puppy several years ago, and also the puppy I got last year, I had to travel by train - one trip was from Kent to North Wales. I used one of those plastic carriers (which belonged to our cat!), but at the time was quite large enough for a puppy - and had no problems. Was able to have it next to me on the train - able to give puppy water and reassure if needed. No problems!
I will say though, that in the last three months, Cody (who is now almost a year old) has been with me on the train twice - sat on the floor by my feet - but.....what he kept doing was picking off all the chewing gum from under the seats and table - and believe me, there was a lot of it!!
Hilda

Thanks to everyone for their most helpful replies.

I tried to reserve seats at our local station today but apparently it is too early. They gave me the number of Virgin so I will phone them tomorrow. Looks like that is the best route to take re Fionas post (only just read it).

Thanks to Brainless re rules of 2 dogs per passenger - I didn't know that.

Hilda - I will bear the chewing gum info. in mind for future reference. Find that chewing gum, cigarrette ends etc are a big problem in local parks with my existing dog.

BFN
Ailsa

Your can book on line too Virgin