It’s confirmed — MTR passengers will soon be able to travel with their pets on the city’s Light Rail network in a few weeks. The rail corporation said that it will kick off trial during which only cats and dogs can use the service on weekends and public holidays from early May. Pawrents will pay the regular MTR fare for each journey, but must buy a monthly pet-carrying pass to bring their furry friends along for the ride.
MTR’s New Rules on Pet Travel
The Cat/Dog Carrying Trial Scheme will begin on May 1, 2025, and will last two months. Parents must first get a digital pass on the MTR app that costs HK$99, which they can buy from April 11 and need to renew every month. Only feline and canine companions small enough to fit in pet carriers or backpacks with combined dimensions of 170cm are allowed on the Light Rail. Commuters with pets can only board and alight from the last door of a light rail vehicle, and should stay at the rear of the train during their trip. While there are no size restrictions on cats, the MTR will not allow large dogs weighing more than 20 kgs, fighting dogs, and known dangerous dogs that should be muzzled and leashed onboard.
Pet-Friendly Transit Policies in Hong Kong
Earlier this month, there were reports that the railway operator would change its rules about animal travel, and it was thought that pets might be allowed onboard regular trains during non-peak times. However, passengers will only be able to take cats and dogs on the Light Rail, which covers neighbourhoods in the northwestern New Territories like Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. The new rules do not apply to the recently launched Tuen Mun Voyager, the city’s first sightseeing Light Rail service.
It was also reported that the KMB, Hong Kong’s largest bus company, was considering allowing pets on their regular routes. Last year, the operator started pet-friendly bus tours across West Kowloon and parts of the New Territories, which also runs only on weekends and public holidays.
Image credits: SPCA Hong Kong
