英语新闻丨宠物可搭乘高铁列车

China's railway operator on Tuesday launched a pilot program allowing pets to travel on select high-speed trains along the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, marking a first for the country's rail system.

中国铁路运营商周二启动了一项试点项目，允许宠物搭乘京沪高铁部分列车，这在全国铁路系统中尚属首次。

The trial service, introduced by China Railway Express Co, enables passengers to book a spot for their cat or dog in a specially designed pet transport container aboard the same train. However, animals are housed separately in a designated logistics compartment, away from passenger seating areas.

这项由中铁快运股份有限公司推出的试点服务，允许乘客在同一趟列车上为他们的宠物预订一个专门设计的宠物运输箱。不过，这些宠物将被单独安置在指定的物流隔间内，远离乘客座位区。

The pilot service is being tested on 10 train services running between five major stations: Beijing South, Jinan West, Nanjing South, Shanghai Hongqiao and Hangzhou East. Travelers can make reservations through the 12306 system, the railway ticket and service booking network, at least two days in advance.

该试点服务目前在北京南站、济南西站、南京南站、上海虹桥站和杭州东站之间运行的10趟列车上进行测试。旅客可以通过12306系统（铁路购票和服务预订平台）至少提前两天预订。

Each pet must be a domesticated cat or dog in good health, weighing no more than 15 kilograms and no taller than 40 centimeters at the shoulder. Required documents include a valid ID and a certificate of animal quarantine.

每只宠物必须是健康的家养猫狗，体重不超过15公斤，肩高不超过40厘米。旅客需提供有效身份证件以及动物检疫合格证明。

Pets are placed in high-speed rail-exclusive containers equipped with air circulation, oxygen and humidity sensors, noise reduction and odor control. The containers are monitored in real time by railway staff, who conduct inspections at intervals of no more than two hours. Water may be provided as needed, though feeding and mid-journey visits by owners are not permitted.

宠物将被安置在高铁专用的宠物笼内，这些宠物笼配有空气循环、氧气和湿度传感器、降噪和气味控制等装置。铁路工作人员会实时监控宠物笼，检查间隔不超过两小时。宠物笼可根据需要提供饮水，但不允许喂食和主人中途探访。

Passengers are advised to arrive at the station two to six hours before departure to complete the necessary check-in procedures. Pets can be collected within one hour after arrival, with pickup notifications sent via text message or phone call.

旅客需在列车发车前两至六小时到站办理托运手续。宠物抵达后须在一小时内领取，旅客将通过短信或电话接收通知。

The service follows a "same departure, same arrival" policy, ensuring that pets and their owners travel on the same train.

该服务遵循“同发同到”政策，确保宠物与主人乘坐同一列车。

Limited time offers

限时优惠

Pricing is based on travel distance and is currently offered at a 30 percent discount during the trial phase. For example, transporting a pet on a journey under 1,000 kilometers will cost 558 yuan ($76) once the service is fully implemented, but for the trial period, it is discounted to 360 yuan.

此服务按里程计费，试运营期间享受七折优惠。例如，若行程距离在1000公里以内，正式票价为558元人民币（约合76美元），试运营期间为360元。

For distances between 1,000 and 1,500 km—like the 1,300-km route between Beijing and Shanghai—the standard rate will be 658 yuan, but currently costs 460 yuan.

对于1,000至1,500公里之间的距离（例如北京至上海1,300公里的航线），标准费率为658元，但目前费用为460元。

A second-class seat on the same high-speed route typically costs between 550 and 670 yuan, making the pet transport service comparably priced to a passenger fare. Each booking includes insurance coverage of up to 2,000 yuan.

同一条高铁线路的二等座票价通常在550元至670元之间，因此该项宠物运输服务的价格相当于一张成人车票。每笔订单均包含最高2000元人民币的保险。

According to China Railway Express, the service is part of broader efforts to modernize the country's transportation infrastructure and meet the growing demand for pet-friendly travel options.

据中铁快运称，这项服务是中国为现代化交通基础设施和满足日益增长的宠物友好型出行需求而做出的广泛努力的一部分。

Before this initiative, pets were not permitted on China's high-speed trains. However, pet transport is allowed on certain routes in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom under specific conditions. In China, updated regulations issued in July 2022 prohibit the carriage of live animals such as chickens or ducks on passenger trains, with some exceptions for slower services in rural areas.

在此之前，中国的高铁列车不允许携带宠物。然而，在特定条件下，美国和英国等国家或地区的部分线路允许携带宠物。在中国，2022年7月发布的最新法规禁止在旅客列车上运输鸡鸭等活体动物，但农村地区的慢速列车除外。

The idea for the new service emerged last year when the China Railway Customer Service Center launched a public survey to gauge interest in pet transportation. The campaign drew widespread attention on Chinese social media, generating millions of views and comments.

这项新服务的构想源于去年中国铁路客户服务中心发起的一项公众调查，旨在了解人们对宠物运输的兴趣。该活动在中国社交媒体上引起了广泛关注，获得了数百万的浏览量和评论。

"In recent years, we have received numerous inquiries from passengers regarding the possibility of pet transportation on high-speed trains," the center said in a statement. "Based on feedback from the survey, we will further explore the feasibility of high-speed pet transportation. We welcome suggestions and opinions from the public."

该中心在一份声明中表示：“近年来，我们收到大量乘客关于高铁宠物运输可能性的咨询。根据调查反馈，我们将进一步探讨宠物高速运输的可行性。我们欢迎公众提出建议和意见。”

Shen Peilan, a Shanghai native living in Beijing with two cats, welcomed the move but expressed concerns about animal welfare.

目前在北京工作、养有两只猫的上海人沈佩兰对该项服务表示欢迎，但也表达了对动物福利的担忧。

"It's a great start, but I'm still a bit concerned about the safety of the pets, especially cats, who can get very stressed when confined with other animals," Shen said. "I really hope that in the future, there could be a dedicated carriage where pets can stay with their owners."

“这是一个很好的开始，但我仍然有点担心宠物的安全，尤其是猫，它们和其他动物关在一起会非常紧张，”沈佩兰说。“我真心希望未来能有专门的车厢，让宠物和主人待在一起。”

Shen said she typically leaves her cats in Beijing during holidays and relies on friends, pet care services or boarding at pet stores while she visits family in Shanghai.

沈佩兰说，她通常在节假日把猫留在北京，而去上海探亲时，则依靠朋友、宠物护理服务或宠物店寄养。

Other pet owners applauded the new service. Wei, a Beijing resident who has raised her cat Niuniu for over a decade, said the program would make her travels more enjoyable.

其他宠物主人对这项新服务表示赞赏。家住北京的魏女士养猫“妞妞”已有十余年。她表示，这项服务将让她的出行更加愉快。

pilot program

试点项目

designated compartment

指定舱位

animal quarantine certificate

动物检疫证明

real-time monitoring

实时监控