What Indian Railways Actually Permits
Indian Railways allows pets in the brake van, the luggage car attached to the train, under its parcel booking rules. Dogs and cats are the species most commonly transported this way. The animal travels separately from the owner, in a crate, as registered luggage. You book it at the parcel office at the originating station, not at the passenger ticket counter, and the booking must happen well before departure: most major stations require you to present the animal at least two hours ahead.The Railways charges by weight, the combined weight of the animal and the crate together, and the rate varies by train class and distance. There is no standard national flat fee. At the parcel office, you will be asked for a health certificate issued by a registered veterinarian, ideally dated within 48 hours of travel. Some stations also ask for a vaccination record, particularly for rabies. Carry both regardless of whether the clerk asks.The brake van is unair-conditioned on most trains. In May or June, that van can reach temperatures above 45°C in the central Indian plains. This is the single most dangerous aspect of rail travel for pets, and it is not flagged anywhere in the booking process.
