Proposal to allow pets on China’s trains draws cheers and jeers

Some welcome prospect of trips with pets, but others raise objections over fur, faeces

- Aw Cheng Wei

China's railway authority is considering allowing pets on the country's trains, in a bid to jump on the "pet wagon" amid a flourishing pet economy.

The proposal has sparked a debate in China as pet owners welcome the prospect of rail trips with their animal companions, even as others raise objections over their fear of fur and faeces.

In May, the National Railway Administration put out an online survey asking passengers questions such as the type of pets they keep, whether they support allowing pets on trains, and measures to prevent disruption.

It did not give a timeline on when it would make a decision on whether to allow pets on trains.

Currently, only guide dogs are allowed on trains in China, which has the world's second-largest railway network after the US. In the US, cats and dogs can be transported on most train services, provided they are in carriers and their total weight, including the carrier, does not exceed 9.07kg.

Chinese media has reported that the railway authority's proposal stems from its hopes of leveraging China's burgeoning pet economy to shore up coffers that had been depleted due to the country's strict Covid-19 restrictions.

While the National Railway Administration made a profit of 3.3 billion yuan (S$615 million) in 2023, it had taken a major hit during the pandemic, especially in 2022, when it reported a loss of 69.56 billion yuan.

China has one of the world's fastest-growing pet economies, with some younger Chinese keeping pets instead of having children.