From next Tuesday, July 21, Renfe will extend the possibility of traveling with dogs weighing up to 40 kilos to its entire train network. The measure, which will coincide with the celebration of the World Dog Day, will allow these animals to travel with their owners both in commercial services (AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed and Intercity) and in Public Service (Avant and Media Distancia).
Until now, this option was only available on certain AVE services and on some rail corridors, such as Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona and Madrid-Malaga since 2022, which were later joined by Madrid-Valencia, Madrid-Alicante and Madrid-Granada. With this expansion, the service will reach practically the entire national territory.
Renfe, the only operator that allows dogs weighing up to 40 kilos to travel on all its trains, is thus committed to more inclusive mobility adapted to new ways of travelling.
With this increase in «pet friendly» trains and routes, Renfe’s objective is to facilitate the movement of dogs and simplify the experience of their owners as much as possible.
MORE JOURNEYS AND A SIMPLER PURCHASE PROCESS
In addition to being able to travel with large dogs on all routes, the new model will allow access to the train from any intermediate stop and not only from the origin of the trip. Two dogs weighing up to 40 kilos will be able to travel on each train, which will occupy the «pet friendly» car.
This system also simplifies the purchase process and the documentation that must be presented at the access controls of the AVE, Alvia, Avlo, Euromed, Intercity and Avant trains.
Tickets can be purchased through the Renfe website and application, as well as in face-to-face and virtual agencies. During purchase, a dog footprint will identify trains on which pets are allowed to travel without a carrier. The owner must purchase a ticket and an accessory for dogs up to 40 kilos, while the system will automatically assign two adjacent seats.
The price of the complement for the dog’s trip will be 40 euros on AVE, Alvia, Intercity, Euromed and Avlo. The general rate will apply to Avant and Media Distancia services. In addition, 24 hours before the trip, the owner will receive an email with the conditions and recommendations for the trip.
Dogs under one year of age, potentially dangerous breeds and females in heat are excluded from this service. Nor will they be able to travel on trains with a connection, on services with alternative scheduled transport plans or on synergized seats (seats on commercial trains, such as AVE, Avlo or Alvia, which are enabled punctually to be sold at public service prices, such as Avant or Media Distancia).
DOGS WILL TRAVEL WITH THEIR OWNERS
Dogs will occupy the inside seat next to the window, next to their owners. They must be secured with a non-extendable strap of 1.5 meters and wear a muzzle both at the station and during embarkation and disembarkation. In addition, the owner will have to carry the official documentation in order: the updated vaccination card or the European passport for pets, as well as a cleaning kit with soaker, wipes, bags and disinfectant and anti-odor spray.
At the access controls of the Commercial Services trains (AVE, Alvia, Avlo, Euromed and Intercity) and Avant, of Public Service, the owners will receive a travel kit consisting of a cover for the seat and a mat for the dog, which they must place during the journey and remove at the end of the journey.
In 2022, Renfe and Purina (Nestlé Group) signed the Big Pet Project, through which Nestlé’s pet food division provides travel kits for dogs and offers specialized advice on animal welfare.
During the past year, Purina supplied nearly 7,000 kits and, for the third quarter of this year (end of September-beginning of October), it is planned to incorporate another 10,000 kits after the extension of the agreement between the two companies.
