Pets should be banned from the rail network

[London Trains]

Moderator note: split from

Man spotted taking sheep on train

At least he had it on a lead! :lol: Man spotted taking sheep on train https://news.stv.tv/west-central/man-spotted-taking-sheep-on-scotrail-train Train staff and passengers were left bemused after a man was spotted casually walking a sheep on a lead through a station in Renfrewshire...

www.railforums.co.uk

I'm surprised the article hasn't mentioned it, but taking a sheep on a train isn't officially allowed. From the conditions of travel:

That said, what would a pet chicken in a pet carrier count as? They're considered livestock irrespective in many legal senses.

No doubt the forum will erupt in a torrent of hate towards me, but it would be much much better if the words "livestock and non-domestic" were removed from that rule, i.e. if all animals were banned.

It would create a much better environment on a lot of trains, where the overwhelming majority of animal owners act like they are superior to everyone else and will let their pets (more like wild animals in a lot of cases!) roam freely on the aisle, sit on seats or tables, or block the entire aisle. Of course assistance animals would be allowed.

 

[mikeg]

roam freely on the aisle, sit on seats or tables, or block the entire aisle.

I think you'll find these circumstances with animals are also against the Conditions of Travel

 

[Zomboid]

I've seen vastly more well behaved dogs and cats/ small animals in carriers being transported by rail than anything causing an issue.

 

[MicroLithium]

I would agree with all animals to be in carriers for the whole journey

 

[Brubulus]

Absolutely disagree with this, pets should be allowed to travel on the railway, even if they are too large to reasonably fit in carriers. Most dogs are much better behaved than some of the passengers.

 

[devon_belle]

Not a fan of dogs, but I sparingly/never see a poorly behaved dog on the train. The same cannot be said for human passengers. As long as they aren't on the seats or bothering any passengers (barking etc), I have no problem with normal domestic pets being on trains. I wouldn't be opposed to a small charge like in the olden days, the same for bikes, but don't really think there's a mandate for it.

 

[London Trains]

I would agree with all animals to be in carriers for the whole journey

This would be a fair compromise.

 

[Lewisham2221]

the overwhelming majority of animal owners act like they are superior to everyone else and will let their pets (more like wild animals in a lot of cases!) roam freely on the aisle, sit on seats or tables, or block the entire aisle.

Sounds like you're very unlucky in your experiences with pets on trains. My experience is the complete opposite to yours - I find the overwhelming majority of pet owners to be responsible and respectful, with well behaved animals. In fact, there are many times where it's taken me a while to even realise that someone has a pet with them!

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I would agree with all animals to be in carriers for the whole journey

That would essentially prohibit anything larger than a Jack Russel - the required cage for any larger breed would be such a size as to cause more of an actual nuisance than the perceived nuisance the dog would otherwise cause.

 

[croydontangle]

This would be a fair compromise.

You can help me lift the rather large cage I’ve had to put my greyhound in onto the train then!

 

[AlastairFraser]

No doubt the forum will erupt in a torrent of hate towards me, but it would be much much better if the words "livestock and non-domestic" were removed from that rule, i.e. if all animals were banned.

It would create a much better environment on a lot of trains, where the overwhelming majority of animal owners act like they are superior to everyone else and will let their pets (more like wild animals in a lot of cases!) roam freely on the aisle, sit on seats or tables, or block the entire aisle. Of course assistance animals would be allowed.

It really depends where it is. You'd have a fair point if we were talking e.g. Strathclyde or Merseyside, but, in other areas, dogs and dog owners tend to be amongst the best behaved passengers!

A much bigger issue for the railway to tackle is public drunkenness - I'm not advocating for a complete ban on alcohol on the railway, but extreme intoxication is a huge issue that results in many hours of delay time as railway staff or passengers are often assaulted or otherwise injured in an interaction with belligerent intoxicated people.

BTP do need to prioritise arrests for drunk and disorderly for a while to curb the problem and show that the laws on public intoxication are being enforced.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Recently avoided boarding at train at Glasgow Central Low Level due to the non-leashed pit bull/XL Bully type dog onboard.

In the past decade it seems to have become the norm for pets to be everywhere. Pets do not belong everywhere.

 

[GusB]

No doubt the forum will erupt in a torrent of hate towards me, but it would be much much better if the words "livestock and non-domestic" were removed from that rule, i.e. if all animals were banned.

The forum wouldn't erupt in a torrent of hate towards you if you paused and had a wee think before you post!

It would create a much better environment on a lot of trains, where the overwhelming majority of animal owners act like they are superior to everyone else and will let their pets (more like wild animals in a lot of cases!) roam freely on the aisle, sit on seats or tables, or block the entire aisle. Of course assistance animals would be allowed.

Ah, so assistance animals are allowed. I'm glad that we've cleared that up and it's awfully good of you to give your permission.

While I'm not a regular traveller on public transport these days, on the few occasions that I have done in recent months I've never experienced any pet owners acting as if they're superior to anyone else. I've encountered a few fellow passengers who had dogs and on all occasions those pets have been on a lead and they were made to sit on the floor out of the way of anyone who was boarding or alighting.

You will experience the odd idiot who doesn't care what their pet does, but that's not the pet's problem!

 

[waveyswirley]

I disagree. People with pets have to travel from one place to another for all sorts of reasons, for instance if they moving home or taking their pet to be looked after by family or friends. There is no reason for them to be excluded from having a viable public transport option.

 

[London Trains]

Recently avoided boarding at train at Glasgow Central Low Level due to the non-leashed pit bull/XL Bully type dog onboard.

In the past decade it seems to have become the norm for pets to be everywhere. Pets do not belong everywhere.

There really needs to be a like button on this forum.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2025 ==

if they're moving home

Should people be allowed to take wardrobes, sofas or desks on the train then?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2025 ==

It really depends where it is. You'd have a fair point if we were talking e.g. Strathclyde or Merseyside, but, in other areas, dogs and dog owners tend to be amongst the best behaved passengers!

A much bigger issue for the railway to tackle is public drunkenness - I'm not advocating for a complete ban on alcohol on the railway, but extreme intoxication is a huge issue that results in many hours of delay time as railway staff or passengers are often assaulted or otherwise injured in an interaction with belligerent intoxicated people.

BTP do need to prioritise arrests for drunk and disorderly for a while to curb the problem and show that the laws on public intoxication are being enforced.

I've noticed it across the country, some of the worst behaviour I have seen from dogs (and their owners) has actually been on the northern WCML between Preston and Glasgow.

Fully agree about the issues with drunk and disorderly people on the railway, but its ridiculous that this comes up every time someone brings up the pets issue, when they have absolutely relation to one another.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2025 ==

The forum wouldn't erupt in a torrent of hate towards you if you paused and had a wee think before you post!

I did have a good think before I posted, there is absolutely nothing wrong with my suggestion, and it would make rail travel safer and much more comfortable and enjoyable!

I only made a comment about hate as I made a post stating a similar opinion few years back, got a whole load of abuse for absolutely no reason and then nearly ended up getting banned from the forum just for having a different opinion to others.

 

[AlastairFraser]

I've noticed it across the country, some of the worst behaviour I have seen from dogs (and their owners) has actually been on the northern WCML between Preston and Glasgow.

Fully agree about the issues with drunk and disorderly people on the railway, but its ridiculous that this comes up every time someone brings up the pets issue, when they have absolutely relation to one another.

A blanket ban on pets would punish a load of other people who have always travelled with their pets safely and respecting other passengers.

Targeting the drunk and disorderly would be an easy way to remove louts from the network and improve the experience for everyone.

 

[jh64]

I've had many great days out with a friend and their dogs taking the train along the Tyne Valley line to good walking spots and pubs, and someone always wanted to give them a pat on the head. It's fun to find out we were actually being horribly anti-social and should have been thrown off at the earliest opportunity.

 

[321362]

I agree, pets shouldn't be banned. So long as they're under control, they're fine.

I have never seen a disruptive pet on a train.

If we're using the argument of "people might be intimidated and not want to travel", I would like to say that many people feel intimidated by loud, shouty human pax on trains.

By that logic, all humans should be banned from trains because 1 in 10000 passengers are disruptive.

 

[Grimsby town]

Banning pets from public transport would definitely make life significantly harder for some pet owners. Personally, I'd like to have a dog at some point but I don't drive, so a ban would either force me to drive or not have a dog. Seems unduly harsh when me not owning a car has a lot of benefits to society.

 

[321362]

Banning pets from public transport would definitely make life significantly harder for some pet owners. Personally, I'd like to have a dog at some point but I don't drive, so a ban would either force me to drive or not have a dog. Seems unduly harsh when me not owning a car has a lot of benefits to society.

Exactly. I don't own a car, and I have a dog. Maybe a solution similar to bicycles with peak time restrictions could work, although they are very different cases.

 

[renegademaster]

Interesting to know what per capita dog complaints vs human complaints are to BTP/61016.

 

[Energy]

Banning pets from public transport would definitely make life significantly harder for some pet owners. Personally, I'd like to have a dog at some point but I don't drive, so a ban would either force me to drive or not have a dog. Seems unduly harsh when me not owning a car has a lot of benefits to society.

Indeed, banning pets would be at odds with encouraging modal shift to rail.

Recently avoided boarding at train at Glasgow Central Low Level due to the non-leashed pit bull/XL Bully type dog onboard.

If the pet isn’t already on a leash or in a carrier, the owner would likely ignore the ban anyway.

 

[xotGD]

Recently avoided boarding at train at Glasgow Central Low Level due to the non-leashed pit bull/XL Bully type dog onboard.

In the past decade it seems to have become the norm for pets to be everywhere. Pets do not belong everywhere.

That's not a pet, it's a weapon.

 

[Jimini]

I disagree. People with pets have to travel from one place to another for all sorts of reasons, for instance if they moving home or taking their pet to be looked after by family or friends. There is no reason for them to be excluded from having a viable public transport option.

This. Our little fella just kips on our laps the whole time, or occasionally has a little look out the window to see what’s out there.

We use XC to drop him off at the in-laws when we go away (Reading up to Coventry). A little over an hour each way, compared to the best part of two hours each way if I drive him up there and back. He normally makes a friend or two en route as well when people stop by to say hello!

*Edit* At least I haven’t been asked to provide a Seatdog upgrade for him as well, thus far

 

[Grimsby town]

Exactly. I don't own a car, and I have a dog. Maybe a solution similar to bicycles with peak time restrictions could work, although they are very different cases.

That seems like a sensible move on commuter services and one that I believe exists on Metrolink.

 

[DJ_K666]

Not a fan of dogs, but I sparingly/never see a poorly behaved dog on the train. The same cannot be said for human passengers. As long as they aren't on the seats or bothering any passengers (barking etc), I have no problem with normal domestic pets being on trains. I wouldn't be opposed to a small charge like in the olden days, the same for bikes, but don't really think there's a mandate for it.

If I saw a passenger barking on a train I'd probably move to the next coach.

But yes mist of thd time I see dogs generally being well behaved, sitting quietly and on one occasion being fussed by other passengers, but she was a gorgeous husky.

 

[I'm here now]

Never really see any pets down West Country on the trains - only well behaved dogs, if anything so a ban is unnecessary for my area.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2025 ==

Never really see any pets down West Country on the trains - only well behaved dogs, if anything so a ban is unnecessary for my area.

 

[vicbury]

I've never ever seen a badly behaved pet on a train and the dog who gets my regular commuter service brightens up the morning for all. I can't see any need for a ban in the slightest.

 

[NSE]

As much as I don’t care for the levels of obsessiveness some people have for their dogs, I’d still rather have a well behaved dog next to me than an unruly person.

I’m not a huge fan of dogs on seats, but equally accept many dogs are cleaner than the individuals that may replace them if they were to move.

I’d understand a few restrictions such as a ban on peak time trains or not allowed on designated services (ones for football matches), simply for safety.

That said, I’m struggling to think of many cases where pet owners have ever made me think ‘what a bad pet owner, that shouldn’t be on the train’ and those that have are generally being a pain themselves with littering, anti-social behaviour etc, that the pet is rarely the main cause of the problem.

 

[bramling]

Moderator note: split from

Man spotted taking sheep on train

At least he had it on a lead! :lol: Man spotted taking sheep on train https://news.stv.tv/west-central/man-spotted-taking-sheep-on-scotrail-train Train staff and passengers were left bemused after a man was spotted casually walking a sheep on a lead through a station in Renfrewshire...

www.railforums.co.uk

No doubt the forum will erupt in a torrent of hate towards me, but it would be much much better if the words "livestock and non-domestic" were removed from that rule, i.e. if all animals were banned.

It would create a much better environment on a lot of trains, where the overwhelming majority of animal owners act like they are superior to everyone else and will let their pets (more like wild animals in a lot of cases!) roam freely on the aisle, sit on seats or tables, or block the entire aisle. Of course assistance animals would be allowed.

To be honest I find that in most cases dogs on trains aren’t a massive problem - indeed in most cases (IME) they behave better than many humans, and when they don’t it’s normally because their owner has taken them out on a day when it is massively too hot for them.

There is a qualification however. I find the reverse applies on preserved railways, where I find a lot of people make a right nuisance of themselves with their dogs. Personally I’d have no issue with them being prohibited from preserved railways, though if one looks at trip adviser this would probably be suicidal for the railways.

Like many other issues, there’s also a Covid legacy at work here.

 

[Robin Edwards]

No doubt the forum will erupt in a torrent of hate towards me, but it would be much much better if the words "livestock and non-domestic" were removed from that rule, i.e. if all animals were banned.

It would create a much better environment on a lot of trains, where the overwhelming majority of animal owners act like they are superior to everyone else and will let their pets (more like wild animals in a lot of cases!) roam freely on the aisle, sit on seats or tables, or block the entire aisle. Of course assistance animals would be allowed.

Firstly - disagreeing with your sentiments doesn't constitute hate although imagining that it does just might propagate some of the polarisation we see too often on social media.

I have travelled regularly and across all of the UK network over the past 60 years and I can honestly say that I don't recognise the picture you present whatsoever. Where are you travelling and witnessing as you claim, overwhelming majority of animal owners allowing their animals to do these things? All I see, including on trains in London, is an overwhelming majority of dog owners acting responsibly with very well behaved dogs? On the other hand I do see a lot of people showing disrespect towards their fellow passengers and the trains they are travelling on.