Traveling by train with Your Dog in India: Tips, Tricks, and Must-Know Information
In the last 7 years years with our dog Gaya, we've now travelled by the Great Indian Railways 49 times now!
Couple of trips a year to meet family, couple of trips a year to escape the city life. Some weekenders, some long distance travels.
And though the process has it's stressful moments, we've found it to be the most comfortable journeying experience once we're on the train.
So here I am, penning down not just the process to follow, but also my experiences -
of getting a coupe,
not getting a coupe,
traveling solo with the dog,
and worst case scenarios to be prepared for!
THE PROCESS -
STEP 1 :
You need to book a 1st AC ticket for yourself.
Dogs are allowed only in the 1st AC.
If you have any other class of ticket, you will have to book your dog in the dog box.
Which I really don’t recommend.
1st AC has coupes (with 2 berths) and cabins (with 4 berths).
Just remember you need the whole coupe / cabin for the dog to be allowed to travel with you.
So if you’re travelling alone, or have 3 people traveling - - book an extra ticket in someone else’s name. (More on this later, in the traveling solo section)
VERY IMPORTANTLY - while booking your ticket, make sure you select “Coupe” or “Cabin” as your preference. This is found under “Passenger Details” or “Passenger Preferences”.
STEP 2:
Two days before travel, head to WHERE YOUR CITY TRAIN CHARTS ARE PREPARED,
And submit a request for coupe.
If you want a coupe. Not required for cabin.
So all letters in Mumbai, for example, will be dropped at Chhartrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.
In Hyderabad, it was at the Rail Nilayam.
Also - this request basically HAS to go where the train starts. Point of Origin.
If you’re in Pune for example, and taking a train that starts in Mumbai, you’re supposed to drop the letter at the Mumbai office.
Complicated and not always possible. Faxing the station of origin was suggested to me recently, but there was no fax number available.
I suggest requesting the officer at your station to kindly put in a word regarding this application. It’s a long shot and I don’t know if it works, but if you can’t find a fax number and don’t have anyone who can drop the letter for you - it’s the best you can do ?
Let me also tell you - 49 trips…I’ve only submitted the letter twice.
Because your request while booking the ticket DOES get considered.
But now that a lot more pets are traveling - I find I’ll HAVE to at least make this effort to best our odds.
Be sure to attach a copy of your confirmed ticket, and a copy of your dog’s vaccination certificate.
Here’s a draft :
STEP 3 :
A day before travel, head to the vet for a “FIT TO TRAVEL CERTIFICATE”.
Vets in Mumbai charge Rs. 500 for this.
Make sure to carry your dog’s vaccination records (and that they are up to date).
This is what it looks like, though different vets have different formats. Their official seal is essential.
The Fit to travel certificate is officially only valid for 3 days.
Some officials allow it up to 7 days. But that’s at their discretion.
We had to beg one official once cause we were using the same certificate on our return journey, 8 days later.
So you may either want to ask your vet for a blank dated certificate for your return travel, if you’re traveling for a longer period,
Or get another one from a vet near you, just prior to travel.
Step 4:
Wait with bated breath for a message from IRCTC, 3-4 hours prior to travel.
As soon as the chart is prepared , you will be intimated by sms with details of your seat.
This should also tell you whether you’ve gotten the cabin or coupe.
If you wanted the coupe, and got it,
Celebrate.
If you didn’t get it, Ouch.
It’s not over yet - but now it’s full hopes on jugaad time.
Head to the station - if it’s the starting point of the train,
Talk to the TC. See if he can do anything.
They can, if they want to. Assuming no VIPs or government officials traveling in the coupe. They don’t always want to.
Or head to the platform once it’s announced,
To where the 1st AC coach is expected.
Try talking to passengers to figure who has the coupe, and if they’d be willing to exchange.
Or figure who is with you in the cabin, and if they are okay with dog.
One time our fellow passengers were okay with the dog, and had to give it in writing to the TC. Kind of them to have agreed. Lucky.
We’ve had to deal with all of these experiences, once each.
You never know what'll work - so yeah - just work your charm and try everything!
STEP 5:
Day of travel.
Carry the following documents:
Copy of your ID card
Fit to Travel Certificate for your dog
Copy of your dog’s vaccination records
Head to the parcel office (usually at the far end of the station)
Fill out the form provided, and submit the documents mentioned above.
You’ll be charged as per weight of your dog & the distance being travelled.
For reference,
Mumbai to Secunderabad (650 kms) for a 20 kg dog is Rs. 450.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS -
This can be booked online. If you’re lucky.
Once you have the seat confirmation (three hours prior), you can try booking from the IRCTC website. It's under the "Trains" subheading, Dogs / Cats Booking.
This hasn’t worked for us yet,
But it has for many.
Someone suggested try on the laptop, not phone.
Someone suggested try Safari, not Chrome.
Hasn’t worked for us yet but try, but hopefully we can update this by our next trip.
But the process isn’t seamless yet,
So keep that extra time to head to the parcel office if required.
FAQS
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR YOU DOG'S TOILET?
When our dog was younger, we would carry newspapers & pee pads, with extra pee pads to prevent any leaks.
Now as an adult,
She just holds. Even if given the option.
I wish she would pee when we take her on platform walks,
Like many many dogs do,
But our dog won’t.
So we ensure we walk her right before we start our journey.
We are very careful with the food she eats - very very light, minimal.
No experimenting with new foods, no kibble (kibble is dehydrating, increases water intake, just forms big shizes)
DOESN'T YOUR DOG GET BORED?
Not at all.
Both my dog and I love train traveling for the sceneries,
for the sleep,
For the odd little stations we stop at,
For some netflixing, for some snuffling,
And for a lot of doing nothing.
Fun fact!
Our first snuffle mat was made on one of our long train rides :))
We do always carry a snuffle toy for her as it's an relaxing activity that she can easily do from the train of the seat.
I'M TRAVELING ALONE WITH MY DOG. WHAT'S THE PROCEDURE?
I’m now proudly a pro solo person traveler with Gaya in tow.
When traveling alone, you still need to book TWO tickets (for you + one other person), and select coupe as your preference.
The procedure is exactly the same.
When the TC comes to check ticket, you can let them know the other person is a No - Show.
They never ask Why etc.
And generally don’t re-assign the seat either, because of the dog.
TIPS -
I usually book my mother as the second passenger when I’m sure to be traveling alone because:
-
Two women are higher on the priority list for a coupe
-
Senior Citizens have concessions of upto 50% off on some trains
And how do you go to the bathroom?
I just took the dog with me the first few times.
Now I just leave her there, and she’s totally fine waiting.
If there was an attendant around, I would ask them to watch the door just in case.
HOW CAN I ENSURE I GET THE COUPE
You cannot.
There are some touts who guarantee this, but I have no experience with them.
The straight forward, legal route -
You cannot guarantee.
But here’s how you can best your odds -
Travel off season.
Specialty trains like the Rajdhani & Duronto have more coupes, and more 1st AC boogies. So better chances of allotment. Basically check the coach configuration of the train you're planning to choose?
Pick trains that start at your boarding point if possible.
Pick trains that have fewer stops. Less chance of a VIP boarding mid way and the TC refusing to allot you the coupe (its happened yup)
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE TIME TO BOOK THE DOGS TICKET?
We reached the wrong station in Delhi a few years ago,
And it was a mad mad dash to the correct one.
We made it just in the nick of time, with no time to book the dog.
We did have the coupe though.
We boarded the train, and the TC came to check tickets a little after the train started moving.
We told him our sad story, he smiled and said he’d come back in a bit. We were prepared to pay the fine - which is apparently 6X the cost of the ticket.
The TC however, ahem, made a ticket for us and accepted just a little extra for his efforts. Ahem ahem.
MY DOG IS REACTIVE. WILL THERE BE OTHER DOGS?
There will definitely be community dogs at the station.
Nowadays, there are almost always other dogs traveling as well. My dog is NOT comfortable with other dogs in closed spaces. So yes, we've had a journey with 3 reactive dogs in one boogie, including mine - and there was a lot of barking unfortunately.
If the other dog is chill, so is Gaya. And except that one time, we've never had an issue with the other dogs on the train.
She does NOT appreciate other dogs playing fetch in the corridor outside, and other dogs coming to sniff under our door will get her barking,
But we get by with peace most of the time.
Oh one time, middle of the night, a german shepherd entered our coupe.
Gaya barked, I screamed. Someone came and took the dog away.
Thankfully nothing happened and the dog wasn’t aggressive…but a reminder to lock your doors!
I HAVE TWO DOGS, HOW CAN I TRAVEL?
I don’t have much experience with this so I’m not sure.
It’s one dog allowed per person as far I know.
Feel free to ask any questions, happy to answer what I can!
Happy travels!
