There are two methods of taking your pets by train: 1) in AC 1st class & 2) in Dog Box
STEP 1: Go to http://www.irctc.co.in and look for trains with 1st AC availability between the source and destination stations. Select only from trains with 1AC. You may want to choose the train with less "Travel Time". Example shown below:
STEP 2: Book the available tickets. Minimum 2 tickets. Select Coupe (2 people room) or Cabin (4 people room) depending on number of people travelling.
- Doubt 1: What if only 1 person is travelling? Still book 2 tickets and select coupe (in the drop down options). Because the rule states that if your co-passenger objects to your pet you will have to deboard the pet. To ensure that all seats in the coupe are booked for you book atleast two tickets, so no one else is there to object for your pet.
- Doubt 2: Will the TC ask where is the second person? He might / might not. Use your creativity to tell that your friend/husband/wife is gone to the loo or to meet other passenger in the other compartment. Mostly the TC does NOT want to enter a cabin with an animal more than once.
- Doubt 3: How many pets can I travel with? One passenger can carry 2 pets maximum
- Doubt 4: When will I get the coupe allotted? Coupe will not be allotted until 4 hrs before travel. You will be notified by SMS on the mobile used for booking. To increase your chances of a coupe (2 people room) allotment, please follow step 3.
STEP 3: Visit the Office of the Ticket Reservation Officer at the source station (Locations below) a day before travel and submit an application at the source station requesting allotment of a coupe of 2 people as you are travelling with pets. The image below outlines the Procedure at the Secunderabad Rail Nilayam Office.
Your preference will be as follows: first VIPs, then honeymooners, then passengers with pets. In case of 4 tickets you don't need to give this application, however please submit to be doubly sure. Find below a sample request letter.
- DELHI: AT Baroda House near India Gate.
- BANGALORE: SBC Reservation Office on the ground floor
- MUMBAI: Next to CSTM there is a building opposite Anjuman Islam Urdu School. First floor has the drop box. There is a different drop box for trains starting from KURLA at LTT station.
- HYDERABAD: At Secunderabad Rail Nilayam, first floor Commercial department.
- KOLKATA: The Reservation office is on the other side of the river from the Howrah station. Note that there are multiple zones like south Eastern, north eastern etc. Please take care which zone your train belongs to and drop in appropriate zone drop box.
Some places require the Chief Reservation officer to sign and some do not. Please enquire at the office.
STEP 4: On the day of travel, go to railway station minimum 2 hrs before departure. Go to the Parcel office (usually on one of the two ends of the main platform. Weigh your dog and pay for the dog ticket. Mostly @INR 60/kg. You are free to go to your coupe/cabin post this if the train is at the platform.
Documents you need:
- Fit to travel certificate from your local vet signed not more than 24 hours before the time of travel.
- Photocopies of vaccination records and your ID proof.
NO CRATE required.
We DO NOT recommend taking this option as the dog box is most of the times unclean, non AC and not monitored. However, we have still laid down some points if you wish to relocate your pet in the dog box.
- Go to train station 2 hrs prior and book it from the parcel office as per STEP 4 above.
- Dog Box is located at the end of the train in the breakvan.
- Only one dog per train is allowed.
- The size of the box is only big enough to keep one goat.
- It is mostly unclean. You should carry your own bedding and bowls and anything else you deem fit for your pet.
- Mostly the door is broken or loose so carry some steel wires to repair it.
- It is dark, non AC and hence gets hot and dingy. Not a happy place for the pet.
- You CANNOT sit in the breakvan even if you want to.
When to book your pet in the dogbox? Only when there is no other mode of travel available or its not affordable. I have taken my own dog by it in a short 6 hr journey from Dehradun which is a cold place and also during night. So, in case it is inevitable do it only for short journeys and during the night. You can not take your pet out for walks in between if you are not confident of opening, putting him back in just a few mins.
Documents you need:
- Fit to travel certificate from your local vet signed not more than 24 hours before the time of travel.
- Photocopies of vaccination records and your ID proof.
NO CRATE required.
If you have big dogs, anxious dogs/cats, not fit to fly dogs/cats. It is also for people with time to spend on long journeys and who love adventurous trips. There is always boiled eggs, rice and omelettes on trains for your pets. Loo breaks can be planned at stations with longer stop overs like 15 mins or more.
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