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Amtrak Allows Cats, Dogs Under 20 Pounds on Trains Permanently in Illinois

By Kyla Gardner | April 22, 2015 2:08pm
 Illinois is the first state to permanently allow passengers to travel with pets.
Illinois is the first state to permanently allow passengers to travel with pets.
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Shutterstock and Flickr/tncountryfan

CHICAGO — Amtrak will allow pets on several of its Illinois trains permanently, according to a release from the Illinois Department of Transportation Wednesday.

Over the past year, the pilot program on the Illinois Zephyr route had about 200 animals ride the rails without incident, according to a statement.

The program will continue on the Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg routes, which run between Chicago to Quincy, and expand to the Illini and Saluki routes, which run between Chicago and Carbondale.

Dogs and cats under 20 pounds are allowed to ride in carriers that fit under passenger seats, and a ticket for a pet — which must be purchased in advance — costs $25.

Pets can travel throughout the day from Chicago, Carbondale, Champaign and Galesburg, but trains leaving from Homewood and Naperville only allow pets to ride in the afternoon due to staffing, according to IDOT.

"By allowing pets on trains, Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation are making it that much easier for people to experience so many of our great communities throughout the state," said Randy Blankenhorn, Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary, in a statement.

Meanwhile, pets are not allowed on Metra and only small dogs and cats in carriers are allowed on the CTA.

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