Should train companies introduce a separate fare or fee for pets?

[philosopher]

Section 2.41 of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage permits passengers to take up two dogs or other pets on trains free of charge.

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/National%20Rail%20Conditions%20of%20Travel.pdf

You may take up to two dogs or other small domestic animals free of charge with you unless a Train Company has set out any special conditions relating to their own train services. In such cases these conditions will be made available when buying your Ticket in advance and will be shown on the Train Company’s website.

Given the finances of the railway are not great at the moment, should train operators introduce a separate fare or other fee for passengers who carry pets with them. The Seat61.com website suggests most other European countries either do not allow passengers to carry pets for free, or only permit them for free if they can fit inside a pet carrier. Otherwise, pets seem to either require a child fare or flat fee. So the UK does appear to be unusual in allowing the vast majority of pets to travel for free.

How to travel with a dog by train between the UK and France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria or anywhere else in Europe...

A practical guide to taking a dog by train between the UK and mainland Europe.

www.seat61.com

Once safely across the Channel, you can take a dog or cat with you on most trains across Europe, sometimes free, sometimes for a small charge, sometimes with a normal child-rate ticket. In sleeping-cars and couchettes on overnight trains, you can generally only take a dog if your party occupies all the berths in a compartment.

Would fares for pets raise additional revenue for the railways, or would implementation costs plus the putting off of passengers with pets mean it would not raise any additional revenue or even result in a loss of revenue?

 

[Bletchleyite]

No. Not many people take pets on trains, and it is just another dissuader.

 

[D365]

What’s the point? More hassle than you’d ever get back in revenue.

 

[SynthD]

Given the finances of the railway, don’t make very minor changes that would annoy half of pet owners and give licence for the other half to disturb other passengers.

 

[SargeNpton]

Pretty sure that British Rail, at one point, did charge for dogs - but gave it up as the revenue received barely covered the admin costs of setting the fares and printing the tickets.

 

[miklcct]

Yes I think so. Bicycles are another item which I think a small charge should be made as well.

 

[David Goddard]

Too much admin involved for very little gain. It works in the bus industry (and on urban light rail) as operators have small areas but not for National Rail

 

[yorkie]

It would be difficult to implement and even harder to enforce.

 

[D365]

Pretty sure that British Rail, at one point, did charge for dogs - but gave it up as the revenue received barely covered the admin costs of setting the fares and printing the tickets.

Exactly what I suspected.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Exactly what I suspected.

Bicycles were similar. Crikey, how would our Standard Branch Line Passenger go with both?!

 

[CyrusWuff]

Pretty sure that British Rail, at one point, did charge for dogs - but gave it up as the revenue received barely covered the admin costs of setting the fares and printing the tickets.

I can't remember when the "Accompanied Animals and Articles" fee was withdrawn, but I've only ever charged it once in my railway career. It was half the Single fare per item, with a £5 cap.

That was when someone was taking an excessive amount of luggage (a total of eleven items) on a train and required use of the station assistance buggy to get it to said train as they were travelling alone.