Dogs And Cats May Soon Be Allowed To Travel On Amtrak

Want to take a family vacation this summer via Amtrak?

You'll have to leave your cat or dog at home.

But that may soon change...

Amtrak rules currently only allow service animals to be brought onboard. Amtrak.com explains:

Generally, animals are not allowed on Amtrak. However, service animals are permitted in all areas where passengers are allowed. Service animals are animals that are trained to perform a specific task for the benefit of a person with a disability.

A bill just introduced in Congress, the "Pets on Trains Act of 2013" H.R. 2066 aims to:

Require Amtrak to propose a pet policy that allows passengers to transport domesticated cats and dogs on certain Amtrak trains, and for other purposes.

The bill would:

Require Amtrak to designate at least one car per multi-car train for transporting pets.
Require all trips under 750 miles to provide room for pets.
Charge a fee for pets to ride.
Give Amtrak 90 days to act when/if the bill is passed.