A new era of travel for pets: MTR "Cat/Dog Carrying" Trail Scheme and smart choice of trolleys

introduction

As pets become important members of modern families, how to ensure that their furry friends travel safely and comfortably has become an issue of pressing concern to many pet parents. Recently, Hong Kong MTR launched a new pet-travel trial program on the Light Rail, aiming to explore the possibility of harmonious coexistence of pets and owners on public transportation. This plan not only creates a new model for pet travel, but also provides tremendous impetus for the research and development and innovation of related products. This article will introduce all the contents of this plan in detail, and explore the challenges and opportunities of pet travel. At the same time, it will recommend a variety of strollers/bags from our Pets Thing to add more convenience and comfort to your pet's journey.

Details of the MTR Pet Travel Trial Scheme

Since May 1, Hong Kong MTR has launched a two-month trial program for cats and dogs in light rail carriages. The program has five travel rules and aims to create a safe, clean and friendly environment for pets and their owners on public transportation. The following are the core elements of the plan:

Plan background and release

According to a press release on March 25, 2025, MTR Corporation has always been committed to providing safe and reliable railway services, and adjusting services in accordance with social changes to cater for the needs of different passengers.

After careful evaluation and detailed planning, MTR announced on March 25, 2025 that it will launch a two-month "Cats and Dogs Travel Together" trial program on Light Rail.

The program allows owners to bring their cats or dogs on the Light Rail on weekends and public holidays, creating a friendly and harmonious riding environment. At the same time, MTR invited the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to become a partner to provide advice and relevant training for frontline staff to ensure that the plan takes into account safety, hygiene and passenger comfort during implementation.

Pilot Program Core Rules

• Cat and Dog Travel Permit System:

  Each passenger must purchase and hold an electronic "Cat and Dog Travel Permit" (priced at HK$99) through MTR Mobile. Each passenger is limited to carrying one cat or dog per trip, and is only applicable on weekends and public holidays.

  Each passenger can only purchase one certificate each month, one for the current month and one for the next month. The certificate is an electronic certificate and has no automatic renewal function.
• Carrying method and special bag requirements:

  Before entering the light rail platform, passengers must completely place their pets in a special bag or backpack that complies with luggage regulations (the total length, width and height must not exceed 170 cm, and the length of a single side must not exceed 130 cm), and keep it closed until leaving the light rail area, ensuring that no part of the pet is exposed.

• Boarding and alighting locations:

  Passengers with pets must get on or off the light rail car at the last door (for double-carriage vehicles, the last door of the first and last carriages can be chosen) and stay at the rear of the carriage throughout the journey. During the journey, passengers still need to pay the normal fares. The "Cat and Dog Travel Permit" is only used as an identity verification and does not include transportation subsidy.

• Safety and health management:

  MTR will have dedicated supervisors in the carriages for inspection, and passengers must present a valid electronic companion pass in MTR Mobile (screenshots or printed versions are not accepted). In addition, passengers should assess the physical and mental condition of their pets before traveling, and bring their own cleaning tools to keep the carriage environment clean.

• Trial period and scope: The trial plan will be implemented from May 1 and will last for two months. During this period, light rail carriages will be used as testing grounds to observe and evaluate the actual situation of pets riding with passengers, and to collect feedback from all parties to improve future service design.
• Detailed provisions of travel rules:
  • Container requirements: All pets must be placed in a qualified pet container, trolley or special carrying bag to ensure that they will not cause any disturbance to other passengers in the carriage.
  • Size and number restrictions: Strict regulations on the size and number of pets are in place to prevent large or excessive pets from causing crowding or safety hazards in the carriage.
  • Safety and hygiene measures: Necessary cleaning and disinfection must be carried out before travel, and owners are required to keep their pets quiet at all times to avoid disturbing other passengers.
  • Supervision and Enforcement Mechanism: A dedicated supervision mechanism will be in place and staff will be on duty in the carriages to ensure that the rules are followed and take appropriate action when violations are detected.
  • Trial feedback and adjustments: During the trial period, we will collect extensive opinions from passengers and pet parents, and continuously optimize rules and services based on the feedback to provide a basis for full implementation in the future.
• Purpose and significance of the plan: The launch of this pilot plan not only reflects the public transportation department's emphasis on pet-friendly services, but also reflects the city managers' pursuit of improving the quality of life of citizens. Through experimental trials, MTR hopes to understand the impact of pet travel on traffic order, environmental hygiene and passenger comfort, so as to formulate more scientific and inclusive pet travel policies.

Partners and Promotions

To ensure the smooth implementation of the trial plan, MTR invited the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to provide professional advice and recommended that pet owners familiarize themselves with the special bag environment in advance, such as preparing breathable, spacious bags and moisture-absorbing pads to ensure that pets can ride comfortably.

Ms Anna Hou, the Association’s Deputy Director of Animal Welfare, said that this program is an important step towards a pet-friendly and inclusive community, and she looks forward to further cooperation with MTR in the future to improve pet riding policies and employee training.

In addition, MTR invited local creative brand "Chocolate Rain" to design a number of vivid and cute posters and promotional materials to promote the trial plan through various channels to facilitate the public to understand the relevant regulations and arrangements. MTR will also sponsor Animals Asia's "Dog Doctor" to thank the animals and their guardians for their contributions to the community over the years, and encourage citizens to support the animal welfare work of the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals by donating points through MTR Mobile from April 1, 2025.

MTR Corporation and Community Vision

MTR Corporation has more than 45 years of railway expertise and employs over 50,000 people in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Australia, the United Kingdom and Sweden. Through the seamless integration of railways, commercial and property development, MTR is committed to promoting a more inclusive and friendly community. The "Cats and Dogs Travel Together" trial program is an important attempt by MTR to respond to citizens' demand for convenient pet travel and to improve the quality of public transportation services.

Pet travel challenges and future trends

Although the pilot program of pet travel has brought new hope to pet travel, it still faces some challenges in actual operation:

• Balance between safety and comfort: The space in public transportation carriages is limited. How to provide a safe and clean travel environment for pets while ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers is an extremely challenging task.
• Importance of carrying tools: Various pet carrying tools are now available on the market, but many products still have shortcomings in terms of safety, comfort and convenience. Choosing a product that can meet the needs of pets and is easy for owners to operate and store is an urgent problem for pet parents.
• Innovation in technology and services: With the continuous development of intelligent technology, functions such as remote monitoring, video interaction, and real-time positioning are becoming increasingly popular in pet travel. Future pet travel products will not only need to have basic transportation functions, but should also integrate intelligent management to enhance the overall travel experience.

These challenges also bring huge opportunities to the market, prompting major brands to continue to innovate and launch products that better meet the needs of modern pet families. It is in this context that Pets Thing launched a series of professionally designed pet strollers, which have become an important choice for improving the quality of travel for pets.