China Railway has launched a pilot pet transport service on select Beijing–Shanghai high-speed trains starting Tuesday, according to the railway operator. 

Passengers can now book the new "Pet Transport" feature on the official Railway 12306 mobile app. 

Reservations must be made at least two days in advance, and each passenger is allowed to transport one pet cat or dog which is in good health, weighs no more than 15 kilograms, and has a maximum shoulder height of 40 centimeters.The pilot program covers ten train services operating between five major stations: Beijing South, Jinan West, Nanjing South, Shanghai Hongqiao, and Hangzhou East.

File Photo (Photo provided to China News Network)

To ensure safety and hygiene, the service adopts a "separate transport with dedicated care" model. Pets are placed in specially designed containers featuring air circulation, temperature and humidity control, oxygen level monitoring, noise reduction, and odor filtration. These containers are stored in designated compartments, isolated from passenger cabins to minimize disturbance.

Throughout the journey, pets and passengers are kept in separate areas. In addition, staff members will not open these containers during the transit at any time to maintain a stable environment on the train ride. Dedicated personnel will be there to monitor the condition of pets through onboard systems, conducting inspections every two hours or less, and can provide drinking water too when needed. Owners are not permitted to visit the pets at any time during transportation. After each journey, both containers and storage compartments are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Under this trial policy, pets and their owners must travel on the same train and arrive at the destination together. Passengers must use the 12306 app to search for eligible services, book tickets, and reserve pet transport. 

On the day of travel, passengers must bring their pet, valid identification, and an Animal Quarantine Certificate to the railway express service counter at the departure station to complete the check-in process. Upon arrival, pets can be collected based through a notification on their phone.

Pricing is based on the travel distance, with an initial 30 percent discount and free basic insurance coverage of up to 2,000 yuan (about $272). For journeys less than 1,000 kilometers, the standard fare is 558 yuan, with a discounted rate of 360 yuan during the trial period. For trips over 2,000 kilometers, the regular fare is 1,258 yuan, with a reduced price of 860 yuan.

This pilot service reflects China Railway's ongoing efforts to optimize transportation offerings and to better meet passengers' diverse needs, for all types of passengers. Feedback will be collected during this trial period to further refine the service.