Starting from April 8th, the national railway will launch the "Pet Transport" pet consignment service

Starting from April 8, 2026, the national railway will officially launch the "Pet Transport" pet consignment service, which will be implemented by China Railway Express. The service covers 121 stations and 228 high-speed trains across the country, with the relevant train numbers marked with the word "pet". It mainly provides two service modes: carrying pets for travel and walking alone with pets. The entire process is implemented with isolated transportation, separation of people and pets, and dedicated care and management.

The target audience is cats and dogs that are domesticated and in good health. Each pet weighs no more than 15 kilograms, has a shoulder height of no more than 40 centimeters, and a body length of no more than 52 centimeters. Strong dogs, aggressive dogs, pregnant pets, infants under 6 months old, and sick pets are prohibited from being checked in.

The pet carrying travel mode is aimed at passengers who have purchased corresponding train tickets. They can make reservations through the pet check-in module in all applications of the 12306 APP. They can book the next day's train before 12:00 pm and the third day's train after 12:00 pm. Each passenger can check in up to 2 pets. The pet solo mode is aimed at customers who only need to check in their pets without the need for transportation. They need to make a reservation 2 to 5 days in advance through the China Railway Express WeChat mini program, and can only check in one pet at a time.

During transportation, a railway specific pet box will be used, equipped with air circulation, temperature and humidity monitoring, oxygen content monitoring, noise reduction and deodorization facilities. The pet box will be placed in an independent express cabinet in the middle of the train, physically isolated from the cabin. Staff will inspect it every 2 hours and only provide water replenishment services. Feeding, unpacking, and visitation are not allowed. After each use, the box and express cabinet will be cleaned and disinfected.

The appointment review shall be completed online in advance, and the valid animal quarantine certificate, the valid identity certificate of the shipper and the standard ventilated and leakproof transport case shall be prepared for the pets within 7 days. At least 2 hours before the train starts, go to the China Railway Express Business Department at the departure station to go through the formalities. Upon arrival, the pets shall be received by the notice and relevant certificate collection.

The fee is calculated based on the transportation mileage, including a basic insurance of 2000 yuan. The mode of carrying pets can enjoy a 30% discount, and pets traveling alone will be charged at the standard price. This service ensures the safety and hygiene of pet transportation through standardized processes and professional management, meeting the actual needs of passengers traveling with pets.