Rules for the carriage of small pets, dogs and birds
General rules of carriage for domestic trains within Russia
Small pets (companion animals), dogs and birds can be carried on trains participating in the dynamic pricing program.
To board a train, you will need a carriage document that can be issued at the station's ticket office and relevant veterinary documents for large animals*. Small pets, dogs and birds can be carried within the Russian Federation without submitting veterinary documents. The owner bears financial liability for the carriage of small pets, dogs and birds without payment in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation. Blind persons' guide dogs can be carried free of charge in all types of cars.
You do not have to order a carriage document for your pet when purchasing your ticket – you can purchase one at any time from when ticket sales for the train start until its departure. You can apply for a refund of this travel document at special ticket offices prior to the train's departure. The travel documents will not be refunded after the train's departure.
Small pets, dogs (except for large breeds and guide dogs) and birds shall be carried in boxes, baskets, cages or containers placed in hand luggage areas. Owners must monitor the condition of their pets and comply with the hygiene standards in the car.
The carriage of wild animals as hand luggage is prohibited on all categories of trains and cars.
Which animals are considered to be small pets (companion animals):
- dogs;
- cats;
- birds (mallards, pheasants, pigeons, doves, parrots, finches, weavers, buntings, sparrowhawks and goshawks),
- small rodents (squirrels, gray rats, guinea pigs, house mice, Djungarian and Syrian hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas and domestic rabbits);
- small non-poisonous amphibians (tree frogs, clawed frogs, axolotls);
- aquarium fish and shellfish;
- small non-poisonous reptiles (chameleons, whipsnakes, red-eared turtles and lizards);
- arthropods (except for animals included in the Red Book of Endangered Species).
* Depending on the type of animal: veterinary certificates No. 1, 2, 3; veterinary reports under form No. 4; veterinary certificates under forms No. 6.1, 6.2, 6.3. These documents are valid for 5 days after their issue and until the start of carriage (for Russia and the CIS).
|
Car type |
Service class |
Terms of carriage |
|
Lux |
1A,1I,1M,1E |
Regardless of the number of passengers, no more than two small pets or two birds can be carried in one pet carrier, whose sum of its three dimensions does not exceed 180 cm. In this case, no additional fee is charged. |
|
2-person sleeper and 4-person sleeper compartments |
1B,1EC,1L, 2EC |
Regardless of the number of passengers, no more than two small pets or two birds can be carried in one pet carrier, whose sum of its three dimensions does not exceed 180 cm. In service classes 1EC, 1L, 2EC, you can also carry one large dog (wearing a muzzle and a leash) if you purchase all seats/berths in the compartment. In this case, no additional fee is charged. |
|
4-person sleeper compartment |
2L |
Each passenger can carry no more than two small pets or two birds in one pet carrier, whose sum of its three dimensions does not exceed 180 cm. In this case, an additional fee is charged for the carriage of pets. Large dogs can be carried, if wearing a muzzle and a leash, in a separate compartment, provided that the passenger purchases all seats/berths in the compartment. In this case, the number of dogs and their owners traveling in the compartment should not exceed the number of seats/berths in the compartment. In this case, no additional fee is charged. |
|
Sitting car |
1R,1S, 2S, 2R |
Not allowed |
|
Sitting car (up to 68 seats) |
2V, 3Zh |
Each passenger can carry no more than two small pets or two birds in one pet carrier, whose sum of its three dimensions does not exceed 180 cm. Pet carriers can only be placed in areas designated for hand luggage. The carriage of large dogs, except for guide dogs, is not allowed. In this case, an additional fee is charged for the carriage of pets. |
|
Sitting car (up to 68 seats) |
3S |
Each passenger issued with one carriage document can carry no more than two small pets or two birds in one pet carrier, whose sum of its three dimensions does not exceed 180 cm. In this case, an additional fee is charged for the carriage of pets. |
|
Economy class sleeper car |
3L |
Not allowed |
|
Economy class sleeper car |
3U |
Each passenger can carry no more than two small pets or two birds in one pet carrier, whose sum of its three dimensions does not exceed 180 cm. Pet carriers can only be placed in areas designated for hand luggage. The carriage of large dogs, except for guide dogs, is not allowed. In this case, an additional fee is charged for the carriage of pets. |
| Sitting car with no compartments (economy class car with no confirmed seat) | 3O |
Each passenger issued with one carriage document can carry no more than two small pets or two birds in one pet carrier, whose sum of its three dimensions does not exceed 180 cm. In this case, an additional fee is charged for the carriage of pets. |
On Sapsan and Lastochka trains, small pets (companion animals), dogs and birds can be carried in pet carriers (boxes, baskets, cages, containers), whose sum of its three dimensions does not exceed 180 cm, and which can be freely placed in areas designated for hand luggage. The weight of an animal, including its pet carrier, should not exceed 10 kg. Guide dogs can be transported free of charge.
Tickets are available for traveling with a small pet in cars with specially designated seats. For Sapsan trains, they are seats No. 65-66 in cars No. 8 and 18; for Lastochka trains they are seats No. 29-30 in car No. 5.
|
Car type |
Service class |
Terms of carriage |
|
2-person sleeper car |
1B Business TC |
Regardless of the number of passengers, no more than two small pets or two birds can be carried in one pet carrier, whose sum of its three dimensions does not exceed 180 cm. Or you can carry one large dog in a muzzle and with a leash if you purchase all seats/berths in the compartment. In this case, no additional fee is charged. |
|
4-person sleeper compartment car |
2U Comfort 2L |
Each passenger can carry no more than two small pets or two birds in one pet carrier, whose sum of its three dimensions does not exceed 180 cm. In this case, an additional fee is charged for the carriage of pets. You can also carry large dogs in a muzzle and with a leash under the supervision of their owners or attendants if you purchase all seats/berths in the compartment. No additional fee is charged, but the number of dogs and their owners traveling as passengers in the compartment should not exceed the number of seats/berths in the compartment. |
|
Economy class sleeper car |
3U Standard |
Not allowed |
Travel documents for the carriage of pets in TCS cars can be issued by the train attendant immediately before the train departure.
Small pets, dogs and birds can be carried in excess of the hand luggage limit in separate compartments of second-class cars* on trains of all categories. Each passenger can carry no more than two small pets or two birds per seat.
Large dogs, including working dogs, can only be carried if wearing a muzzle and on a leash in a separate compartment of a 4-person sleeper car (except for high comfort cars) under the supervision of their owners or attendants and if all seats in the compartment are purchased. No additional fee is charged, but the number of dogs and their owners traveling as passengers in the compartment should not exceed the number of seats/berths in the compartment.
No more than two dogs can be carried in the vestibule of a local train and their carriage must be paid for. The dogs should be under the supervision of their owners or attendants.
* Except for 2-person sleeper cars and high comfort cars.